Medvedev warns, EU rules out sanctions

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev says his country is prepared to end all ties with NATO, VOA reports. The statement came over growing differences with the Western alliance on Russia's military incursion into Georgia. Medvedev warns, EU rules out sanctions Medvedev said Monday that any decision to sever links with NATO would be difficult for both sides. But he told reporters in Sochi, Russia will survive, and that any break-up will be precipitated by the West. The comments came just days after Russia informed NATO that it is halting military cooperation with the Western alliance. The Russian leader also accused NATO members of "provoking" increasingly strained ties with Moscow. He mentioned NATO expansion and said NATO bases surround his country "from all sides." Top Russian leaders have broadly criticized Georgian and Ukrainian aspirations for NATO membership. Both also condemned a U.S. plan to provide NATO with a missile interceptor system for deployment in eastern Europe. Russia calls the proposed missile shield a threat to its security. The United States says the system - limited to 10 missile interceptors - is aimed at protecting the United States and its allies from attacks by what it describes as rogue governments such as Iran. Meantime in Paris, current EU president France has ruled out sanctions against Russia as European Union leaders consider ways to pressure Moscow to fully comply with a ceasefire agreement. In an interview on French public radio Monday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the European Union did not foresee sanctions against Russia, even though Moscow continues to have troops in Georgia. Kouchner said the worst had been avoided in Georgia and the majority of Russian troops had retreated from Georgian territory. Kouchner spoke a week before European leaders meet in Russia to decide how to deal with the Georgian crisis that flared up over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union. Acting on behalf of the bloc, French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew to Russia and to Georgia earlier this month to negotiate a cease-fire after clashes between the two over South Ossetia. The EU divided over how to deal with Russia, with some members wanting a tougher position against Russia than others. Moscow has refused to fully retreat from Georgia, arguing the cease-fire deal gives it the right to keep some forces there. On Monday, Russia's lower house of parliament vowed to back independence for South Ossetia and another breakaway region in Georgia. Kouchner said it was important to control the corridor in which the Russian forces patrol - and it would be easier after the summit to send observers from the EU and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Georgia to monitor the cease-fire. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks to Russia's NATO Ambassador Dmitry Rogozin in Sochi today (Beta)

Medvedev warns, EU rules out sanctions

Medvedev said Monday that any decision to sever links with NATO would be difficult for both sides. But he told reporters in Sochi, Russia will survive, and that any break-up will be precipitated by the West.

The comments came just days after Russia informed NATO that it is halting military cooperation with the Western alliance.

The Russian leader also accused NATO members of "provoking" increasingly strained ties with Moscow. He mentioned NATO expansion and said NATO bases surround his country "from all sides."

Top Russian leaders have broadly criticized Georgian and Ukrainian aspirations for NATO membership. Both also condemned a U.S. plan to provide NATO with a missile interceptor system for deployment in eastern Europe.

Russia calls the proposed missile shield a threat to its security. The United States says the system - limited to 10 missile interceptors - is aimed at protecting the United States and its allies from attacks by what it describes as rogue governments such as Iran.

Meantime in Paris, current EU president France has ruled out sanctions against Russia as European Union leaders consider ways to pressure Moscow to fully comply with a ceasefire agreement.

In an interview on French public radio Monday, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said the European Union did not foresee sanctions against Russia, even though Moscow continues to have troops in Georgia.

Kouchner said the worst had been avoided in Georgia and the majority of Russian troops had retreated from Georgian territory.

Kouchner spoke a week before European leaders meet in Russia to decide how to deal with the Georgian crisis that flared up over the breakaway region of South Ossetia. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union.

Acting on behalf of the bloc, French President Nicolas Sarkozy flew to Russia and to Georgia earlier this month to negotiate a cease-fire after clashes between the two over South Ossetia.

The EU divided over how to deal with Russia, with some members wanting a tougher position against Russia than others.

Moscow has refused to fully retreat from Georgia, arguing the cease-fire deal gives it the right to keep some forces there. On Monday, Russia's lower house of parliament vowed to back independence for South Ossetia and another breakaway region in Georgia.

Kouchner said it was important to control the corridor in which the Russian forces patrol - and it would be easier after the summit to send observers from the EU and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to Georgia to monitor the cease-fire.