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Miliband seeks backing on Russia UK urges tough response to Russia
(about 2 hours later)
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband is in Ukraine for talks on forming a coalition against Russian "aggression". 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.
He is meeting leaders in Kiev, a day after Russia formally recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. 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.
Nato members have called on Moscow to reverse the step amid Western concerns Ukraine could be the next flashpoint. Mr Miliband's visit came a day after Russia recognised the independence of Georgia's two breakaway regions.
Ukraine's president says his country is a hostage in a war waged by Russia against states in the old Soviet bloc. Earlier, Ukraine's president said it was a hostage in a war waged by Russia.
Victor Yushchenko told Mr Miliband that the brief conflict between Georgia and Russia earlier this month had exposed serious weaknesses in the powers of the UN and other international bodies.
The most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Meeting Russia's 'Number One' Press reacts to Russia-West splitJubilation and dismay in GeorgiaThe most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Meeting Russia's 'Number One' Press reacts to Russia-West splitJubilation and dismay in Georgia
President Victor Yushchenko said the brief war between Georgia and Russia had exposed serious weaknesses in the powers of the UN and other international bodies. He called for Ukraine's defences to be strengthened and said his country would consider increasing the amount of money Russia pays for the lease of the port of Sevastopol, where it stations its Black Sea Fleet.
Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake its Russian-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia by force.Fighting between Russia and Georgia began on 7 August after the Georgian military tried to retake its Russian-backed breakaway province of South Ossetia by force.
Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia and an EU-brokered ceasefire.Russian forces subsequently launched a counter-attack and the conflict ended with the ejection of Georgian troops from both South Ossetia and Abkhazia and an EU-brokered ceasefire.
Fragile partner 'Old sores and divisions'
Mr Miliband is holding talks with President Yushchenko and the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Volodymyr Ohryzko, who, like Georgian leaders, want to join Nato. After holding talks with President Yushchenko and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Ohryzko, Mr Miliband told a group of students in Kiev that the Georgia crisis had "provided a rude awakening".
But the BBC's regional analyst, Steven Eke, says Mr Miliband will be aware that two-thirds of Ukrainians are either opposed to Nato membership, or have no fixed opinion. "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," he said.
The Russian President says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one David MilibandUK Foreign Secretary
"The old sores and divisions fester. And Russia is not yet reconciled to the new map of this region."
Mr Miliband said the Russian president's "unilateral attempt to redraw the map marks a moment of real significance".
"It is not just the end of the post-Cold War period of growing geopolitical calm in and around Europe," he continued.
"It is also the moment when countries are required to set out where they stand on the significant issues of nationhood and international law.
"The Russian president says he is not afraid of a new Cold War. We don't want one. He has a big responsibility not to start one."
The foreign secretary said the response of the EU and Nato to such "aggression" should be one of "hard-headed engagement".
"That means bolstering our allies, rebalancing the energy relationship with Russia, defending the rules of international institutions, and renewing efforts to tackle 'unresolved conflicts'," he explained.
"Second, we must re-balance the energy relationship between Russia and Europe."
SOUTH OSSETIA & ABKHAZIA South Ossetia Population: About 70,000 (before recent conflict)Capital: TskhinvaliPresident: Eduard Kokoity Abkhazia Population: About 250,000 (2003)Capital: SukhumiPresident: Sergei Bagapsh Profile: South OssetiaProfile: AbkhaziaQ&A: Conflict in GeorgiaSOUTH OSSETIA & ABKHAZIA South Ossetia Population: About 70,000 (before recent conflict)Capital: TskhinvaliPresident: Eduard Kokoity Abkhazia Population: About 250,000 (2003)Capital: SukhumiPresident: Sergei Bagapsh Profile: South OssetiaProfile: AbkhaziaQ&A: Conflict in Georgia
Furthermore, President Yushchenko's popularity is at rock bottom, so forging a coalition with such a fragile partner could be difficult, our correspondent says. He said the two blocs' member states needed to guarantee diverse, secure and resilient gas supplies by investing in gas storage facilities in order to deal with interruptions with the supply from Russia and its allies; to build a more effective internal market; and to become less dependent on gas altogether.
Mr Miliband's visit comes after he urged Russia to "abide by international law" and to withdraw its troops to positions they held before the confrontation. "Europe needs to act as one when dealing with third parties like Russia," he urged.
He said Russia's recognition of the separatist regions "further inflames an already tense situation" adding: "We fully support Georgia's independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow." Mr Miliband again rejected calls for Russia to be expelled from the G8, but did suggest the EU and Nato needed to "examine the nature, depth and breadth of relations with Russia".
Moscow's move has been criticised by other world leaders. He also reiterated that the British government supported Ukraine's application for full Nato membership, to which Russia and many Ukrainians are opposed.
In a joint statement, Nato's 26 member states condemned the move and called for Russia to "reverse its decision". Earlier, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Moscow's next objectives could be Russian-speaking regions in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Moldova.
US President George Bush warned his Russian counterpart that his "irresponsible decision" was exacerbating tensions in the region.
France, the current holder of the presidency of the European Union, called for a political solution.
In an interview with French radio, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner warned that Moscow's next objectives could be Russian-speaking regions in the former Soviet republics of Ukraine and Moldova.
HAVE YOUR SAYMiliband should keep his nose out of it unless he wants it bloodied by the Russians Di, LondonSend us your comments
In Ukraine's southern province of Crimea, the majority ethnic Russians have been protesting against Kiev's push to join Nato and to end the presence of Russia's Black Sea naval fleet.In Ukraine's southern province of Crimea, the majority ethnic Russians have been protesting against Kiev's push to join Nato and to end the presence of Russia's Black Sea naval fleet.
The Russian president has also warned Moldova against repeating what he called Georgia's mistake of trying to use force to seize back control of its breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, where Russia has kept a significant military presence.The Russian president has also warned Moldova against repeating what he called Georgia's mistake of trying to use force to seize back control of its breakaway region of Trans-Dniester, where Russia has kept a significant military presence.
Cold WarCold War
Earlier, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow had been obliged to act following the "genocide" started by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in South Ossetia in August. On Tuesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow had been obliged to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia following the "genocide" started by Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili in South Ossetia in August.
HAVE YOUR SAYMiliband should keep his nose out of it unless he wants it bloodied by the Russians Di, LondonSend us your comments
"The most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible, because most of them they are Russian citizens," he told the BBC's Bridget Kendall in an exclusive interview in the Russian town of Sochi."The most important thing was to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe to save the lives of people for whom we are responsible, because most of them they are Russian citizens," he told the BBC's Bridget Kendall in an exclusive interview in the Russian town of Sochi.
"So we had to take a decision recognising the two states as independent.""So we had to take a decision recognising the two states as independent."
He said a new Cold War could not be ruled out, but that his country did not want one.He said a new Cold War could not be ruled out, but that his country did not want one.
"There are no winners in a Cold War," he said."There are no winners in a Cold War," he said.
Georgia said Russia was seeking to "change Europe's borders by force".Georgia said Russia was seeking to "change Europe's borders by force".
Most of Russia's forces pulled out of the rest of Georgia last Friday but it maintains a presence both within the two rebel regions and in buffer zones imposed round their boundaries.Most of Russia's forces pulled out of the rest of Georgia last Friday but it maintains a presence both within the two rebel regions and in buffer zones imposed round their boundaries.
Mr Medvedev has blamed Georgia for failing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the crisis.Mr Medvedev has blamed Georgia for failing to negotiate a peaceful settlement to the crisis.