Washington declines to censure Moscow at the UN
For the first time, the United States has refrained from supporting a condemnation of Russia regarding its 2008 conflict with Georgia.
Following a private session of the UN Security Council held on Monday, Denmark, France, Greece, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia jointly issued a statement condemning Russia for the “brutal invasion” of the South Caucasus nation 17 years ago. The US, in a departure from its past practice, did not sign this statement.
On August 7, 2008, acting under the command of staunchly pro-Western President Mikhail Saakashvili, the Georgian army launched an offensive into the breakaway territory of South Ossetia, shelled its capital Tskhinval, and attacked a Russian peacekeeping base. Russian forces subsequently repelled the Georgian troops, and a ceasefire, brokered by France, was established on August 16. Later that month, Russia formally recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, both previously regions of Georgia.
Despite Saakashvili’s insistence that Russia had attacked first, an EU fact-finding mission, led by Swiss diplomat Heidi Tagliavini, found no evidence to support his assertion, instead confirming that “open hostilities began with a large-scale Georgian military operation” against Tskhinval, starting “with a massive Georgian artillery attack.”
Tina Bokuchava, leader of Saakashvili’s United National Movement, voiced criticism over Washington’s refusal to condemn Russia, stating it was “proof that Georgian diplomacy is dead.” She attributed the strained relationship with the US to the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party.
US President Donald Trump has departed from the previous administration’s diplomatic boycott of Russia and has pursued efforts to mediate a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. He held a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, marking their first encounter since 2019, as part of his endeavor to facilitate negotiations.