Brussels: European Union nations were divided at today's summit meeting on how to deal with Russia and under what conditions to resume partnership talks in the wake of the war in Georgia.

Despite Russia s increasing importance in global politics and the economy, several EU nations wanted to hold off reaching out to Moscow while it remained unclear what would come out of international talks to build on the cease-fire between Russia and Georgia.

Those talks in Geneva broke down on the opening day when the delegations from Russia and the breakaway Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia left the negotiations.

"In due course we can discuss the partnership and cooperation agreement. I don't think today is the day to restart that," said British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said she wanted to wait another month, until an EU-Russia summit in Nice, France. "We have until Nov. 14," four days before the Geneva talks are slated to resume, she said.

Germany and Italy are leading the campaign to resume discussions on trade, energy and political ties after Moscow withdrew its forces from parts of Georgia according to the terms of an EU-brokered cease-fire.

But some eastern EU nations that once were within Moscow's sphere of influence want Moscow to go further with the withdrawal.

"First, Russia has to fulfil all its obligations and withdraw its troops from Georgia," said Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip. "It means we cannot go on with negotiations between the European Union and Russia. First they have to fulfil all their obligations."

Source : PTI