'If Russia decides to step back from those accession commitments that it has already made, it will further delay its aspirations for joining the WTO,' said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

'By its recent actions, 'Russia is putting its aspirations at risk',' the official said, quoting an August 13 statement by President George W. Bush that criticised Russia's military actions in Georgia.

Russia decided earlier on Monday to break off some trade agreements reached during negotiations to join the WTO, as relations between Moscow and the West grew increasingly tense.

'Russia intends to inform various WTO partners of its withdrawal from accords that contradict its interests,' First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov told Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in a meeting of the inner circle of cabinet ministers, as quoted by Interfax.

In response, Mr Putin gave his assent, saying: 'That is reasonable.' Mr Putin, who stood down as president in May but remains highly influential, went on to reiterate previous Russian objections, notably the effect of WTO rules on agriculture, while affirming that membership remained a goal.

'It turns out that we don't see or feel any pluses from membership and if there are some, we still carry a burden,' said Mr Putin.

'We need to get things clear with our partners. ... We need to think most seriously about protecting our manufacturers.' Russian officials did not specify which accords would be scrapped.

The comments come against a background of deteriorating relations between Moscow and the West over Russia's military surge into southern neighbour Georgia and support for separatists there, as well as over US plans for new missile defence facilities in Europe. -- AFP