Poland says it will not allow Russian motorcycle group to enter country

Russian Night Wolves biker club members arrive for a concert in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, April 23, 2015. The Night Wolves, a nationalistic group loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, are leaving Moscow on Saturday to ride through Belarus and Poland on a journey to Berlin to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Bikers of the Night Wolves plan to retrace the westward path that Red Army soldiers took across eastern Europe as they fought Nazi troops. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (The Associated Press)

People attend a concert organized by the Night Wolves biker club in Moscow, Thursday, April 23, 2015. The Night Wolves, a nationalistic group loyal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, are leaving Moscow on Saturday to ride through Belarus and Poland on a journey to Berlin to mark the 70th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. Night Wolves bikers plan to retrace the westward path that Red Army soldiers took across eastern Europe as they fought Nazi troops. (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin) (The Associated Press)

WARSAW, Poland – The Polish Foreign Ministry says it will not allow a nationalistic motorcycle group loyal to President Vladimir Putin to enter Poland.

The "Night Wolves" group had planned to enter Poland next week to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. Their plan was to cross several countries on their way to Berlin, following a path taken by the Red Army in its defeat of Adolf Hitler's Germany.

The Foreign Ministry in Warsaw said Friday that it gave a diplomatic note to the Russian embassy letting it know of the decision.

Poland's prime minister had called the plans by the bikers a "provocation."

The matter comes at a time of huge strain between the West and Russia.