EU May Shy Away from Sanctioning Russia, Sarkozy Aide Says.

European Union leaders probably won't penalize Russia with sanctions over its invasion of Georgia when they hold a Sept. 1 summit on the crisis, a French official said, a result that might signal the West's limited ability to respond.

France doesn't foresee imposing barriers or restrictions at the meeting being convened by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to discuss relations with Russia in light of the Georgian conflict, a presidential aide said. The aide briefed reporters at the Elysee Palace in Paris today on condition he not be further identified. France holds the EU's rotating presidency.

"The Europeans are sort of trying to find a formula for their message which makes them look tough but without being too provocative," said Reginald Dale, a senior fellow in the Europe program at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. "They're bound to do something pretty cautious and rather feeble."

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