Russia hits back over EU auction

Russia today criticised the European Union for threatening to postpone talks on a new partnership deal over the war in Georgia.

The EU decision, widely seen as a slap on the wrist for Moscow, was made at a summit meeting in Brussels yesterday.

EU officials said unless Russian troops pull back from positions in Georgia, talks on the wide-ranging political and economic agreement would be put off.

“Naturally, we cannot agree with a number of biased statements regarding Russia in the final declaration of the summit, including the assertion that our reaction to the Georgian aggression was disproportionate,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Britain and Eastern European nations at the summit held out for a tougher line. But Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and natural gas deterred the EU from stronger sanctions.

“The main thing, however, is that they are in the minority and the majority of EU countries have manifested a responsible approach and confirmed their intention to continue the partnership with Russia,” the ministry said.

Russia’s Nato envoy meanwhile accused the United States of pushing Poland and the ex-Soviet Baltic states to demand tougher sanctions against Russia.

“It is clear who the losing side is: the policy pursued by the Polish president and his Baltic co-thinkers,” Dmitry Rogozin said.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said he will go to Moscow on Monday for talks with the Russian leadership.

A cease-fire he brokered to end fighting between Russian and Georgia calls for forces to be withdrawn to their positions before the war.