Ukrainian PM sees Poland's backing for EU, NATO

WARSAW, Sep 6 (Reuters) Ukraine sees neighbouring Poland as its strongest ally in its drive to join the European Union and NATO, Ukraine Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich was quoted today as saying.

''In recent years Poland has always stood behind Ukraine on the international forum,'' Yanukovich told Polish daily Dziennik ahead of his visit in Poland.

''We are neighbours and we have to help each other...In my opinion it is also in Poland's interest that Ukraine joins the EU and NATO,'' he said.

Poland backed Yanukovich's opponents in the 2004 ''Orange Revolution'' and some analysts expected relations to cool now that he had became prime minister.

Yanukovich is due to meet his Polish counterpart Jaroslaw Kaczynski and will address an economic forum in the southern resort of Krynica later today, REUTERS KR BS1408