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Though differences remain, Western leaders are forming a more united front, increasing pressure on Russia to live up to its pledge to withdraw from Georgian territory," with heretofore cautious German Chancellor Angela Merkel saying in Tbilisi that NATO countries "are on a clear path in the direction of NATO membership" for Georgia, the Financial Times reported late Sunday.[1] -- "Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, told Nicolas Sarkozy, his French counterpart, that Russian forces would begin their withdrawal on Monday, moving towards South Ossetia and a security zone that roughly coincides with its borders, according to the Kremlin," Charles Clover and Catherine Belton said. -- But "Mr. Medvedev stopped short of promising that Russian troops would return to Russia, suggesting that Russia could maintain a sizeable force in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and in a buffer zone several kilometers wide around the enclaves. -- Such a massive Russian presence in the enclaves could allow them eventually to seek independence or be annexed by Russia, something Georgia is desperate to avoid." ...

WEST IN UNITED FRONT OVER GEORGIA
By Charles Clover (Tbilisi) and Catherine Belton (Tskhinvali)

Western leaders formed a united front on Sunday as they increased pressure on Russia to live up to its pledge to withdraw from Georgian territory in accordance with a ceasefire signed at the weekend.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, told Nicolas Sarkozy, his French counterpart, that Russian forces would begin their withdrawal on Monday, moving towards South Ossetia and a security zone that roughly coincides with its borders, according to the Kremlin.

But his pledge to withdraw forces came only after Mr. Sarkozy warned Russia that it faced “serious consequences” if it did not pull out immediately. It also drew a sceptical reaction from Condoleezza Rice, U.S. secretary of state, and Angela Merkel, the German chancellor.

The exchanges added to the war of words between Moscow and Western capitals in what has become the most serious stand-off between Russia and the West since the end of the Cold War.

Ms. Rice accused Russia of violating the ceasefire Mr. Medvedev signed on Saturday. “There is a ceasefire and Russia is currently not in compliance with this ceasefire,” she told Fox News Sunday.

Visiting Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, Ms. Merkel said the world was watching Russia and called the withdrawal from Georgia an issue of “credibility.”

In comments likely to irk Moscow, the German chancellor also said Georgia remained on track to eventually join NATO, as agreed at a May NATO summit. “Every free, independent country can together with NATO members discuss when it can join NATO. In December, we will have a first evaluation of the situation and we are on a clear path in the direction of NATO membership,” she told reporters at a press conference with Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s president.

Mr. Medvedev stopped short of promising that Russian troops would return to Russia, suggesting that Russia could maintain a sizeable force in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, and in a buffer zone several kilometers wide around the enclaves.

Such a massive Russian presence in the enclaves could allow them eventually to seek independence or be annexed by Russia, something Georgia is desperate to avoid. “No matter what happens, we will never reconcile with the fact of annexation or indeed separation of parts of territory from Georgia; with the attempt to legalize ethnic cleansing; and with the attempts to bring Georgia to its knees and undermine our democratic system,” Mr. Saakashvili said.

Things initially looked optimistic on Sunday morning, as Russia’s forward commander in Gori, Georgia, declared the Russian army was leaving Georgia. But soon after that, Russia’s defense ministry issued a denial.

The U.S. has been trying to marshal Western countries to exert pressure on Russia to live up to the ceasefire, and respect Georgia’s territorial integrity. But major fissures have opened up between Western allies in the past week, with Germany, France, and Italy opposing Washington’s bid to further isolate Moscow.

Germany’s foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned against punishing Russia too severely. “I do not advise . . . any knee-jerk reaction such as suspending talks on a partnership and co-operation agreement [with the European Union],” he told the weekly Welt am Sonntag.