BBC: UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called on the EU and Nato to initiate "hard-headed engagement" with Russia in response to its actions in Georgia.
In a speech in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, he urged them to bolster their allies, re-balance the energy relationship with Russia and defend international law.
Mr Miliband also warned the Russian president not to start a new Cold War.
His visit came a day after Dmitry Medvedev recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions.
Earlier, Ukraine's president said it was a hostage in a war waged by Russia against countries in the old Soviet bloc. UK Urges Tough Response to Russia >>> | August 27, 2008
BBC:
Russia Faces Fresh Condemnation >>> | August 27, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Georgia: Europe United to Condemn Kremlin: David Miliband joined a chorus of Western leaders to condemn Russia, accusing the Kremlin of jeopardising European security by recognising Georgia's two breakaway regions.
The rhetorical salvoes showed the new strain on relations with Russia. For its part, the Kremlin said it had only defended its citizens in Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Sergei Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, argued the decision had been "unavoidable".
Speaking in Ukraine's capital, Kiev, the Foreign Secretary said that Russia was "more isolated, less trusted and less respected" as a result of its actions in Georgia. These breached a United Nations Resolution, approved by Moscow last April, which reaffirmed Georgia's sovereignty over Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
Mr Miliband placed the onus for avoiding a new Cold War firmly on President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia. "The Russian President says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want a new Cold War. He has a big responsibility not to start one," he said.
Comparing Russia's actions to the Prague Spring of 1968, when Moscow suppressed a reformist Czech government, Mr Miliband said: "The sight of Russian tanks in a neighbouring country on the 40th anniversary of the crushing of the Prague Spring has shown that the temptations of power politics remain. The old sores and divisions fester. And Russia is not yet reconciled to the new map of this region."
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's foreign minister, issued a stark warning. "If we don't watch out, Europe's whole security architecture will start to falter with unforeseeable consequences for all of us. The spiral of provocation must stop immediately," he said.
France, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency, expressed concern that Moscow, emboldened by its military success in Georgia, could turn on other former Soviet republics with breakaway provinces and large Russian minorities.
Bernard Kouchner, the French foreign minister, described the situation as "very dangerous" and said: "There are other objectives that one can suppose are objectives for Russia, in particular the Crimea, Ukraine and Moldova." >>> By Con Coughlin in Kiev, Adrian Blomfield in Tbilisi and Harry de Quetteville in Berlin | August 28, 2008
MAIL Online:
Russia Gives Two Fingers as It Continues to Stand Up to the West >>> | August 27, 2008
TIMESONLINE:
Cold War Tension Rises as Putin Talks of Black Sea Confrontation: A new Cold War between Russia and the West grew steadily closer yesterday after the Kremlin gave a warning about “direct confrontation” between American and Russian warships in the Black Sea.
Dmitri Peskov, a spokesman for Vladimir Putin, the Prime Minister, declared that Russia was taking “measures of precaution” against American and Nato naval ships. “Let’s hope we do not see any direct confrontation in that,” he said.
Any attempt by countries in the West to isolate Russia would “definitely harm the economic interests of those states”, he said. >>> By Michael Evans, Defence Editor | August 28, 2008
THE GUARDIAN:
EU Threatens Sanctions against Russia: Leading European powers losing patience with Kremlin's sabre rattling in the Caucuses
European Union leaders are to discuss sanctions against Russia ahead of an emergency summit meeting, the French foreign minister said today, as the west hardened its position towards Moscow.
When asked what measures the west could take against Russia in the crisis over Georgia, Bernard Kouchner told a press conference in Paris: "Sanctions are being considered." >>> By Mark Tran, Julian Borger in Kiev, Ian Traynor in Brussels, and agencies | August 28, 2008
WELT ONLINE:
Russland aktiviert die Waffen des Kalten Krieges >>> Von Manfred Quiring | 28. August 2008
TOWNHALL.COM:
Farewell, NATO >>> By Victor Davis Hanson | August 28, 2008
THE TELEGRAPH:
Dmitry Medvedev Claims Diplomatic Victory for Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia claimed to have won a diplomatic victory by securing the backing of China and key Central Asian states for its actions in Georgia and its breakaway regions >>> By Richard Spencer in Beijing | August 28, 2008
NZZ Online:
Russland sitzt auf verlorenem Posten: Asiatische Staaten fordern territoriale Integrität Georgiens
Russland ist mit seinem Vorgehen in Georgien bei seinen asiatischen Partnern in der Shanghaier Kooperationsorganisation (SCO) auf Ablehnung gestossen. Bei ihrem Gipfeltreffen in Duschanbe, der Hauptstadt Tadschikistans, verabschiedeten die Präsidenten aus sechs asiatischen Staaten eine Erklärung, in der sie die Anwendung militärischer Gewalt in Georgien verurteilen und die Achtung der territorialen Integrität eines jeden Staates fordern. >>> | 28. August 2008
BBC:
Georgia Breaks Ties with Russia: Georgia has decided to cut diplomatic ties with Russia, days after Moscow recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions >>> | August 29, 2008
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