LONDON, (Reuters) – Russia’s foreign intelligence chief has accused America and Poland of trying to gain a sphere in Ukraine. This accusation is the most clear signal Moscow gave that war might end with a forced division of Ukraine.

Sergei Naryshkin (chief of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service) cited unpublished intelligence that he claimed showed the United States of America and Poland were conspiring to restore Polish control of a part of west Ukraine.

Naryshkin made a rare statement that was released only by the SVR.

Some territories now in Ukraine have been ruled by Poland at various times, including between the two World Wars. The Soviet Union absorbed the entire West Ukraine (including Lviv) at the close of World War Two.

According to the SVR, the United States discussed with Poland a plan that would allow Polish “peacekeeping forces” without NATO mandates into western Ukraine. This would reduce the risk of confrontation with Russian troops.

After the fall of Soviet Union in 1991, the SVR assumed most of the Soviet-era KGB foreign spying responsibilities. Reuters could not verify the evidence.

Naryshkin’s Thursday comments were not addressed by the Polish foreign ministry.

Poland has been a strong supporter of Ukraine in resisting Russia’s invasion. It sent weapons over the border to help and took in approximately three million Ukrainian refugees.

Russian Senator Andrei Klimov was a top lawmaker and deputy chairman of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee. He also claimed that Poland planned to seize control of part of Ukraine. He did not provide any proof to support the claim.

According to one of Putin’s close allies, Ukraine is heading towards collapse due to what he called a U.S. effort to subvert Russia by using Kyiv.

Russia describes its actions in Ukraine as a “special operations” meant to dearm Ukraine and defend it against fascists. This is the false pretext, according to both Ukraine and West for President Vladimir Putin’s war of aggression unprovoked.