HELSINKI (Reuters) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin defended Moscow's ban on imports of Polish meat and called for talks to find a solution.

"To resolve such problems, we need to sit down at the negotiating table, find agreement and find an acceptable solution," Putin said at a news conference ahead of a European Union-Russia summit on Friday.

"And (Poland must) not protect the interests of swindlers and crooks involved in smuggling which hits local producers," Putin said.

Poland, demanding an urgent lifting of Moscow's ban on imports of Polish meat and some other food products, vetoed the launch of talks between the EU and Russia on a new partnership agreement.

Putin sought to play down the row, saying: "We don't see these as unsurmountable problems".

Also a senior Polish official said on Friday that Poland may withdraw within days a veto that has blocked the launch of a pact between the European Union and Russia and cast a shadow over a summit with Putin.

On the issue of Russia's plan to impose a ban on EU meat from Jan. 1, Putin said this was a separate problem linked to Bulgaria and Romania's planned accession to the bloc.

He complained the European Commission had not held consultations with Russia on the accession of these two countries.

"The thing is that with these countries we had problems regarding veterinary and sanitary standards ... there are aspects that need to be clarified.

“This is not political scheming, but a problem of practical”.