Russia pleased with EU decision

Moscow is pleased with the European Union for not imposing sanctions to freeze ties with Russia, after leaders from the 27 member states met in Brussels on Monday to discuss the Russia-Georgia conflict.

The leaders were unable to reach a consensus during the EU summit where some states, including the Baltic States, had been pushing to postpone talks with Russia on a new partnership pact.

"There were calls from some states to impose sanctions on Russia and freeze relations," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. "But the main thing is that…the majority of EU states showed a responsible approach and confirmed their course towards partnership with Russia."

Russia has drawn Western condemnation for deploying troops inside Georgia proper last month and recognizing the independence of South Ossetia and the separate breakaway province of Abkhazia.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to travel to Moscow with other EU official on Sept. 8 to discuss the French peace plan and decide whether partnership talks set for later this month can go ahead.

Source: Reuters