Poland's foreign minister has summoned the Russian ambassador to protest comments by nationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who said Poland and the Baltics would be "wiped out" in the event of a war between Russia and the West.
Zhirinovsky, the leader of the Liberal-Democratic Party and a deputy speaker of the parliament's lower house, said the Baltic states and Poland would be "doomed." Speaking on state Rossia 24 television Friday, he said "they will be wiped out. Nothing will remain there."
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said he summoned the Russian ambassador on Tuesday, but gave no details of their talk.
Zhirinovsky has a history of making outrageous comments, mainly to cater to his nationalistic supporters. His party votes as the Kremlin wishes, but his statements don't represent the government's view.
