Komorowski to raise Tymoshenko arrest with Ukraine's Yanukovych

Yulia Tymoshenko waves to supporters as she arrives in court in Kiev, Monday; photo - EPA Aleksandr Prokopenko

"The talks will be on the [current] Polish Presidency of the EU and how Poland can assist Ukraine [in its accession agreement] bid,” an unnamed source close to Poland's Foreign Ministry told the PAP news agency.

The two president's will meet at Komorowski's seaside retreat in Jurata, northern Poland.

“President Yanukovych's visit can also be an opportunity to discuss issues surrounding the arrest of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, " said the diplomat.

Tymoshenko, co-leader of the Orange Revolution, was arrested on 5 August during a trial in which she faces charges of abusing public office.

This morning, a petition with 23,000 names was handed in to President Yanukovich's office demanding Tymoshenko's release.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski has said that the government will use Poland's six-month EU presidency to emphasise the importance of the association agreements of Ukraine and Moldova.

Poland, alongside Sweden, was the initiator of the so-called Eastern Partnership scheme to bring ex-Soviet states closer to the EU. (pg)