Russian threatens the EU, and its neighbors

BBC:

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned the European Union not to turn a proposed partnership with former Soviet countries against Moscow.

Mr Medvedev was speaking at the end of a Russia-EU summit held against a background of deep divisions over security, trade and energy supplies.

He also signalled a new gas crisis may lie ahead, suggesting Ukraine lacks the money to pay for gas Russia provides.

A row over prices severely affected supplies to Europe in January.

The BBC's Richard Galpin in Moscow says divisions between Russia and the European Union seem to be growing ever wider, and this latest summit, held in the far east of Russia, made that abundantly clear, with little sign of progress on any significant topic.

'Anti-Russian bent'

"We would not want the Eastern Partnership to turn into partnership against Russia. There are various examples," Mr Mevedev told a news conference at the end of the summit.

"I would simply not want this partnership to consolidate certain individual states, which are of an anti-Russian bent, with other European states," he said.

Moscow has accused the 27-member bloc of creating new dividing lines in Europe by offering closer ties to six former Soviet republics.

THIS IS AN OUTRAGEOUS VERBAL THREAT.

THE THREAT ALONE PROVES THE RUSSIAN REGIME IS NO FRIEND OF DEMOCRACY - OR ITS NEIGHBOURS INDEPENDENCE.

AND THAT ON THE WORLD STAGE, RUSSIA IS CURRENTLY A FORCE FOR EVIL.

RUSSIA SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH.