Moscow  - Russia never promised sanctions against Zimbabwe so it cannot be accused of backtracking, a senior Russian diplomat said on Monday.

"Elections in Zimbabwe were discussed at the Group of Eight (G8) summit ... but no engagement on the part of the president of the Russian Federation nor any member of the Russian delegation was promised anybody," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.

Russia and China angered partners with their veto of a United Nations Security Council resolution to impose an arms embargo and financial sanctions on President Robert Mugabe's authoritarian regime, widely criticized for violence against the opposition in recent elections.

Washington and London charged Moscow of turning its back on promises made during the G8 summit last week, and charged the move "raises doubts" about Russia's reliability as a partner.

Kislyak on Monday said: "Accusations that Russia is not a reliable partner are, we believe, not only unfounded but also irresponsible.

"We have different methods for addressing the situation in Zimbabwe."

Russia, which called the sanctions beyond the UN's purview, is thought to reject such measure because it fears its national sovereignty could be undermined by such a precedent of international governance. (dpa)