KIEV, September 7 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's president met with the Polish prime minister on Monday to discuss energy cooperation and preparations for the two countries' joint hosting of Euro 2012, the presidential website said.

Viktor Yushchenko and Donald Tusk discussed a pipeline project to supply oil from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Europe bypassing Russia. They also considered Ukraine's deal with the European Union to modernize its ageing natural gas pipeline network.

Separate legs of around 500 km to bring oil to a refinery in Poland's Gdansk have yet to be built in both Ukraine and Poland as part of the Odessa-Brody project.

The March 23 EU deal angered Russia, which supplies 80% of its gas exports to Europe via the ex-Soviet republic, as it was concluded without its participation.

Yushchenko, on a two-day visit to Poland, highlighted his country's interest in intensifying "investment cooperation" with Warsaw, the website said.

Yushchenko and Tusk also discussed preparations for the Euro 2012 football championships, the site said. Ukraine's preparations for the tournament have suffered delays due to financial problems.

A former Soviet-bloc country, Poland has backed Ukraine's bid to join NATO and the EU.