Moscow and Warsaw look forward to composing a cooperation blueprint covering the next eight years and lift their relations to higher levels, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday.

Russian-Polish relations "should move to a qualitatively new, higher level," Lavrov told reporters after talks with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski.

The visa issue between Russia and the European Union (EU) was among the hottest topics the two ministers discussed.

"My Polish colleague and I are certain there is no other way for Russia and the European Union than to agree faster about the visa-free regime. There are all conditions for that," Lavrov said.

Russia was ready to sign such an agreement as soon as all necessary steps were implemented, he added.

Sikorski said the further liberalization of travel requirements between Russia and the EU was imminent and that Warsaw did not object to the introduction of a visa-free regime for bearers of Russian service passports as a first step.

The two diplomats also discussed the investigation of the plane crash in April 2010 near the Russian city of Smolensk that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and 95 others.

According to Lavrov, Russia would hand over the debris of the plane to Warsaw only when the investigation was fully completed.

"There could not be an artificially set deadline. Investigation must be completed before the material evidences are handed over. This is our law, we can't change it," Lavrov said, responding to a demand to return the remnants of the presidential plane.

"We'll try to do that as soon as possible, not because the EU or the U.S. ask us to do so, but because we understand the depth of this tragedy for the Polish people," Lavrov said. "This is why we feel enormous responsibility not to leave a single question unanswered, nor a single doubt."

Warsaw said last week that in the upcoming Russia-EU summit slated for Dec. 21 in Brussels, it would insist on a quick return of the remaining wreckage from the Tu-154 aircraft.