Russia has accused the Polish government of having a "warped mentality" and of falsifying history after Warsaw apparently refused to issue an invitation to Vladimir Putin to commemorations marking the 80th-anniversary of the start of the Second World War.

The Russian leader’s absence from the formal events, which will take place on September 1, appears to reflect continuing tensions between Poland and Russia.

Poland, which for centuries lived under the domination of its eastern neighbour, has viewed with disquiet and trepidation Russian aggression in Ukraine, and now considers Russia to be a major security threat.

But the decision to snub Mr Putin while extending invitations to Nato and EU allies, and Alexander Lukashenko, the autocratic leader of Belarus, has angered Moscow and prompted a sharply-worded statement.

“It is with amazement that we have noted the intention of the Polish authorities to organise the commemoration in the format of a meeting of present allies and partners in Nato and the EU as well as members of the EU’s Eastern Partnership,” said the ministry.

“This ignores the logic of history in favour of modern realities,” it continues. “No place has been provided for our country despite its decisive contribution to defeating Hitler’s Reich and the liberation of Poland from Nazi invaders.”