The Gates of Hell

Matthew 16:18

Posts Tagged “European Union”

Sep 02 2008

E.U. Eases Off on Economic Threats After Russia Suggests Troop Pullback

Posted by: admin in Wars and Rumors of Wars, tags: European Union, russia

The European Union on Monday backed off threats to impose economic sanctions on Russia but said it would suspend talks on a wide-ranging partnership agreement with Moscow until Russian troops withdraw from positions inside Georgia.

The decision, made at an emergency summit of European leaders in Brussels, followed Russian statements suggesting a renewed willingness to pull back its troops if international forces replaced them and guaranteed the security of the two breakaway Georgian republics at the center of the crisis.

Britain and some Eastern European nations had called for tougher action against Russia after it recognized the two republics, South Ossetia and Abkhazia, as independent states last week. But other nations urged further dialogue with the Kremlin, arguing that trying to isolate Russia would be counterproductive, especially given Europe’s dependence on Russian oil and natural gas.

“I think we found an excellent compromise, not going back to business as usual but still making clear that we want to maintain contact with Russia,” German Chancellor Angela Merkel told reporters in Brussels after the meeting.

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