More rifts in European policy towards Russia opened up on Wednesday when the European Commission ignored appeals from Poland and Lithuania and called for the immediate resumption of talks with Moscow on a long-term partnership agreement.

In a detailed review of European Union-Russian relations, commissioned by EU governments after the Kremlin’s invasion of Georgia in August, the Commission said: “These negotiations should continue, first because this would allow the EU to pursue its own interests with Russia, and secondly because this is the best way to engage with Russia on the basis of a unified position . . . The next negotiating sessions should be scheduled now.”