FORMER Polish prime minister Donald Tusk denied claims yesterday that Russian President Vladimir Putin had suggested that their two nations carve up Ukraine.

The charge that the offer was made in a one-on-one meeting between the two men in Moscow in 2008 was laid by former foreign minister Radek Sikorski in an interview published on Sunday.

It sparked a huge outcry in Poland and Mr Sikorski backed away from the allegations almost immediately, suggesting that his memory had failed him.

The episode has been an embarrassment to Mr Sikorski, who, prior to stepping down as foreign minister last month to become parliamentary speaker, had been a strident voice urging a tough stance toward Moscow.

Some political opponents are calling on him to resign.

Mr Tusk said that the Russian leader had never proposed partition to him.

He added that Mr Sikorski must have drawn his impression from remarks made by Mr Putin that he had misunderstood.