Russia sidelines UN on Georgia

Before the UN has had time to act on the crisis in Georgia, the Russian president’s recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence has undermined its efforts.

The recognition may prevent an international peacekeeping force for the region, currently being discussed, from ever being created.

In the space of three weeks, Moscow’s recognition of Georgia’s territorial integrity, maintained through the 1990s, has been totally redrawn, as has the map.

As far as Moscow is concerned, the rules of the game changed when Georgia launched its massive bombardment of the South Ossetian capital, an action which snuffed out any lingering affection for Tbilisi and made reconciliation impossible.