US changes stance on 2008 Russia-Georgia war
The US has for the first time refused to endorse a condemnation of Russia for the 2008 war with Georgia.
Following a closed-door session of the UN Security Council on Monday, Denmark, France, Greece, the UK, and Slovenia issued a statement denouncing Russia for the “brutal invasion” of the South Caucasus country 17 years ago. The US did not sign the statement, despite having done so in the past.
On August 7, 2008, under orders from staunchly pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili, the Georgian army invaded the breakaway region of South Ossetia, shelled its capital Tskhinval, and attacked a base of Russian peacekeepers.
Russian forces pushed the Georgian troops back, and a French-mediated ceasefire was reached on August 16. That same month, Russia recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, another of Georgia’s former regions.
Although Saakashvili insisted that Russia had attacked first, an EU fact-finding mission led by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini found no evidence to support his claim, confirming that “open hostilities began with a large-scale Georgian military operation” against Tskhinval, starting “with a massive Georgian artillery attack.”
Tina Bokuchava, head of Saakashvili’s United National Movement, criticized Washington’s refusal to condemn Russia, calling it “proof that Georgian diplomacy is dead.” She blamed the ruling Georgian Dream party for souring relations with the US.
US President Donald Trump has broken the previous administration’s diplomatic boycott of Russia and has sought to mediate an end to the Ukraine conflict. He met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week for the first time since 2019 as part of his efforts to push forward the negotiations.