Russia has appealed to the European Union to be pragmatic at a summit on Monday, which will discuss the crisis in Georgia .
In an interview with German public broadcaster ARD, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he hoped European leaders would be "objective" in their assessment of the conflict between Russia and Georgia. Putin blamed outside powers for encouraging the EU to take a tough stance against Moscow and said the Kremlin was prepared to allow European monitors into the region, once security was guaranteed. The EU has criticised Russia for sending soldiers deep into Georgian territory during the fighting over the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, but on Friday played down the prospect of sanctions. Earlier on Friday, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said it was recalling all diplomatic staff from its embassy in Moscow due to Russia's continued military presence in the country.
(Deutsche Welle)
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