Russia welcomes outcome of EU summit

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Tuesday welcomed the outcome of an EU summit on the conflict in Georgia, praising the alliance for a "responsible approach".

The European Union has condemned Russia's invasion in Georgia last month, launched to repel Tbilisi's attempt to retake the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and the recognition by Moscow of South Ossetia and another separatist region, Abkhazia.

But EU leaders meeting in Brussels on Monday stopped short of imposing immediate penalties on Russia apart from freezing work on a new partnership deal.

"There were calls from some states to impose sanctions on Russia and freeze relations," the Russian Foreign ministry said in the first official reaction from Moscow to the EU summit.

"But the main thing is that...the majority of EU states showed a responsible approach and confirmed their course towards partnership with Russia, realising all too well the importance of mutually beneficial cooperation," a ministry statement said.

The European Union, Moscow's main trading partner, heavily depends on energy supplies from Russia.

The Foreign Ministry said Russia disagreed with remarks that it used "disproportionate force" included in summit's final declaration. Moscow also regretted plans to suspend talks on a partnership treaty.

"Our cooperation is mutually beneficial, and the price of it is so high that it would be unreasonable to say the least to put all to risk," it said.

Moscow was committed to continuing dialogue on all issues, including those on which positions did not coincide, it said.