Between our misguided military adventurism, irresponsible fiscal policy and the downturn in the market this government has already stuck our national phallus in the food processor. Now, with Messers Milliband and Cameron in the lead, we are fumbling for the ‘on’ switch.

Leave the Russian bear alone!

Tikhon, london,

Who can explain, why Polland people is so affraid of Russia. and think that they will be next?
It's no doubt after all of this Ukrain will buy Russian gas by the world market prices.we will not sponsor their economy.

Evgeny, Chelyabinsk, Russia

To Wagner, Neuss

Isnt that what was reported the first day of the attacks!! before the western news took the US and UK view.... but now they has someone on record to confirm it. Gerogia crossed the line first... but russia bad (if your mind is stook in the cold war).

Tom, uk, London

Robert, London, UK -- we Europeans are better players than you British. You with your pride produced WW2, but the Americans preferred Russia to you and you lost the empire. Now there is European Union and you are alone in the Atlantic.Who punish Thatcher for Falkland? Why to punish Putin?

nick, milan, italy

I would not be suprised if the Russians are planning -Regime change in Georgia- Nato,EU,US are helpless bystanders reduced to empty platitudes, trapped by their dependance on Russian energy,as Russia exerts its authority against a perceived threat to its interests.

Robert, London, uk

To Alexander, Vilnius, Lithuania : and the saddest thing is, that Lithuania depends wholly on russian gas, having unpredictable ex-KGB agents in kremlin's driving seat there will always be attempts to influence our political matters (Paksas, Uspaskih). Elections are coming, need i say more?

Dainius, London,

Read today in Spiegel in the "The Cold Peace" article what a military observer working with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) said:
“Saakashvili lied 100 percent to all of us, the Europeans and the Americans.”
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,575581,00.

Wagner, Neuss,

- Mrs.Smith, tell us about your family
- I have 4 sons. John's in Iraq now, Peter's in Afghanistan, Bill's in Kosovo and Nick's getting ready to go to Iran
- What about your husband?
- My husband's in Europe now lecturing about how to stop the Russian aggression

Igor, NYC,

I don't think anybody over here expected much in the way of "standing up to Putin" from the EU. Nick in Milan, all those "leaders" you are so proud of, Merkel especially, just hang their spines in the closet each day.

Jerry, seattle , usa

"The French insisted that there should be no talk of punishing Moscow for recognising the independence of two of its provinces."

Two of ITS provinces?? Before this started both provinces were Georgian. They are not now "independent" but to be incorporated into Russia proper - Land Grab.

Bill, Stavanger, Norway

With the European countries listed here as "Doves", who cares about American West client states - Hawks? These devisions are obvious, were known before and have nothing to do with Georgian conflict.

R G Weiss, St Petersburg, Russia

Solution is obvious: guarantees by all parties, i.e. EU, US, Russia:
1. End of tit for tat policies
2. Demillitarized zones (Cuba, Baltic, Caucasus etc, no NATO in Non-Atlantic States)
3. Dialog and partnership instead of empty words (UK)
4. Stop 'Soviet Ocuppation' rhetoric (Poland, Baltic)

Bruce, Maidstone, UK

Politicians once again cause mayhem and death to innocent people by their greed to control.
ONLY politicians want to control and tax people,they lose all sense of morality once they achieve power.
Why is there never a "Non of the above" on a voting slip ?

Michael W, Telford, UK

And, by the way, don't blame americans. Some of them ARE nice guys; they just desrve better administration. Do not blame the people for the mistakes of REGIME (which is, and bloody one). Hope, they will have guts to ellect really good one, not the one which relies on instincts rather then facts.

Bruce, Maidstone, UK

Gas and oil rules! No matter democracy, human rights or political trends. Any nation means nothing until the pie of resources is not divided.

Alexander, Vilnius, Lithuania

After the occupation of Iraq, Afghanistan and the Kosovo affair it will be Iran

simon, london, uk

Like Italian-European I prefer to buy gas from Russia than from the US owner of all worlds oil and gas. Berlusconi, Sarkozy, Merkel and Zapatero agree. Th Brits are the usual slaves of the US, but UK is not Europe.

nick, milan, italy

Simple policy here is to get Ukraine & Georgia into NATO asap and remove Russia from G8 etc

Have absolutely nothing to do with Russia, I've never trusted them and never will

Their behaviour with BP says it all as does the cutting of power to former USSR slave nations

Leave them to isolation

Guy, London, UK

We need to remove Europe's independence from gas & oil of dangerous regimes and build out own industry of nuclear/ wind/ tidal/ wave/ hydro/ geothermal /bio power. This would boost the economy & jobs, enable us to keep some of the wealth in Europe, & remove a dangerous dependence on rogue countries.

John, Toddington,

Where is the condeming of the occupation of Kosovo by NATO. Where is condemnation of the invasion of Iraq. Where is the condeming of the ethnic cleansing of the Greeks from Nrth Cyprus by US & UK backed Turkey. War crimes in Abu ghraib. And the biggest lie by Blair going to war on false pretence.

Hratch Chade, Pasadena, USA

The only real aggressor in this whole deal are US interests in the region, that won't hesitate to bring the world upside down in order to be satisfied.
I say sever ties with the Yankees, not Russia. Europe to the Europeans, enough with WW2 bond pay-back.

Greg, Athens, Greece

Stanislav Russia officially did not recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia in February 2008. It would be silly. But after a recognition of Kosovo movements of separatists predictably became more active. And Russia had bases to recognise Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Xamid, Moscow, Russia

2 jirikoo, Prague, Bohemia
You simply don't know history and culture of Georgia, Ossetia and Russia. You better read before write.
As you can see we don't read only Putin's propaganda. What do you read?
And read my first post. Or do you think there mustn't be peacekeepers in region there war was.

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

You are talking about russian presence in Georgia or other facts like you've seen it yourself. You are owned by your own "propaganda". Russia calls its presence a peacekeeping (UN allowed), your media listens to Saakashvili and calls it occupation. Dates, facts - proove yourself with URLs.

Igor, Novokuznetsk, Russia

I am from Russia.And I know that Russia exerted more power that it was necessary.We know that Russian ships still in Poti seaport.But when we see the comments from Western people about dangerous Rus aggression we understand that something wrong with you all.Why you push NATO missiles to our borders?

Daniyal, Moscow, Russia

Perhaps Russia can put economic sanctions and suspend membership of the USA and UK in G8 for: invading Afghanistan and Iraq and the Balkans, maintaining peacekeeping forces in the region after conflict, and recognising Kosovo's independance? Oh sorry,ive forgot theres an inexplicable differance.

Chris, Rochdale , UK

Dear NATO/USA supporters. Let's just look to our young history in Iraq/Kosovo. You're saying abt agression: "..there is unacceptable in 21st century tt one country invades another one, bomb it, overthrow it's government, demolish the monuments...":) It's funny to hear it fm Yr side, isn't it?

Evgeniy, Novorossiysk, Russian Federation

You'll die of laughter
Feb2008, S.Ossetia proclaimed independence. Despite of NATO’s objections Russia recognized it saying S.Ossetia was not a precedent.
Aug2008, Kosovo proclaimed independence. NATO recognized it. Russia started shouting and calling for supporting Serbia’s territorial integrity

Stanislav, Baku, Azerbaijan

Tom, uk, London
Agreed.

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

alexey, where did you just emerge from? The mere fact that Russia is still on Georgia land is the least a crime. Don't read only Putin's propaganda and listen to the fact.Georgia's attack of its own(!) breakaway region was a result of precedent Russia's provokations and even ethnic cleansing. Simple

jirikoo, Prague, Bohemia

Nino, you’ve forgot to mention about numerous provocations from Georgian side. Are they so "breakaway regions"?!

And you’ll better look into description of BM-21 “Grad” and what it is suited for. It is not so precise weapon to punish "bad men". It is weapon used to clear the area at all.

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

Royzie - 100% agree!
Wait a sec - is Iraq a part of British Empire? Or, when did Afganistan join US? What about bombing Serbia? Those are recent examples. If americans open books (most of them don't) they will find more examples of DEMOCRACIES (Andrew, Cambridge) invading other countries.

Bruce, Maidstone, UK

2 Andrew Cambridge:
"democracies NEVER EVER go to war"
1. Georgia is not a democracy - crushed internal opposition, closed opposition mass-media
2. Vietnam, Iraq, Grenada, Panama, Serbia

Vlad, Moscow, Russia

Richard, Bucharest

On no single occasion RF stopped supplying West with gas & oil, even during the Cold War. And you can't proove otherwise. Actually, it does appear that East EU still can't think out of the box. I'm ashamed Britain joined. What else would you expect from Brown? Economy growth?

Bruce, Maidstone, UK

Just because Georgia has ties with the US does not make it a democracy. They bombed people in there country. A democracy works with all people of its nation. They should not be given nato membership. And support form the west and britian only encourages georgias tactics...

Tom, uk, London

royzie, london, UK
Yeah, but there is support for US, isn't it? I'm glad that you understand our feelings now. Such feelings we've got for years. And I'm proud that nowadays Russia can and have to say loudly "no" and "stop" to things annoying it.

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

... both russia and georgia should be delt with as both used excessive force. being Irish I would not condone my govt bombing the north because of loyalist paramilitarys and what russia did is simualar to british responce to irish paramilitarys... but stopped at the boarder....

Tom, uk, London

to royzie
Sanctions? Support? Approve? Do u really think that the Russians care about your approve? Escalation of this conflicted began several weeks ago and tell me please - where are your sunctions??? only words and grimaces...
My full support and respect to Medvedev.

Alex, Moscow, Russia

I don't know what you get fed in your media Alexey, Vladimir and Russian chums, but international law forbids countries invading and occupying their neighbours, whatever spurious pretexts are used like in SO. There is NO support anywhere for Russia behaving like Adolf in Sudetenland and Poland.

royzie, london, UK

Democracy is not the perfection of the world. Russians like being ruled by a strong hand. Georgia should be made a NATO member, but should be stripped of its army, so that it can have protection when needed but have no chance to wage war itself.

eugsam, minsk, belarus

To make the EU Bloc dependent on enrgy from a former enemy that has shown itself to be totally unreliable supplier is not madness - it is criminal.

Whichever Politicians made this decision should be put on (show) trial & jailed for life.

Pity Capital punishment is so controversial

Richard, Bucharest,

The legend: "Many homes in South Ossetia were destroyed during the fighting." I read that Georgian army did the most if not all demolishing there in South Ossetia. Russian troops destroyed few civilian buildings in Georgia.

Wagner, Neuss,

So - I assume that Russia will now grant independence to Chechnya? Funny how double standards don't apply to Putin.

Also, democracies NEVER EVER go to war - proved historically - so which of georgia and russia is not a democracy? And yet Russians here seem to love not being in a democracy

Andrew, Cambridge,

Plan carried out by Russia.

1. handing out Russian passports in breakaway regions...

2.pushing the Georgian to the war by numerous provocations...

3. envading country with the false motive of defending as if their own citizens.

nino, Tbilisi, Georgia

Kris wrote:
"since when occupation of foreign country is legal?"

Since NATO occupied Kosovo and invaded Iraq. Now, Russia has accepted the rules the US set. You cannot play fair when others play foul.

Maxim, St. Petersburg, Russia

“....and to engage neighbours and partners in settling disputes peacefully.” If Mr. Sarkozy had addressed this letter to and Georgia before its invasion of SO, surely the crisis could have been averted. But I believe this was not NATO's stand when bravo Saakasvilliy stretched his muscles against SO!

Ganesh, Colombo,

How long will our countries politicians ignore each other? How does it can be called "agression", lookin at ruins of Tshinval? There're no ruins in Georgia. Removing of Russian peacekeepers by PKs of other country haven't even suggested by Hawks or others. Why? Let's remove them by others. Why not?

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

EU needs Georgia.
Georgia is the only demcratic, pro-western country, that can provide Europe with Russian-free Gas and Oil supplies from Azerbaijan and Central Asia.
That is the reason why Russia wants to annex Georgia.

Ucha, Tbilisi, Georgia

Georgia sent it's army in to "Crush the Seperatist Movement".
Why has there not been a SINGLE condemnation of Georgia's actions by the western nations ?

Why was it OK for NATO to bomb Serbia when Kosovo wanted independence ? Ther UN sent troops to help East Timor gain independence as well.

Kerry, Pattaya, Thailand

In fact, Hawks incl. US bet on Georgia. Doves incl. Russia bet on Russia. And they won't communicate with each other till they get profit and value of the situation, or till they die in WW3. Until that they will call it aggression (no mater what it was) and play their side. Money has paid already.

Evgeniy Denisov, Samara, Russian Federation

Every country has a plan in case of military conflict. When Georgia attacked civillians in South Osethia, Russian military forces executed standard plan to prevent future aggression. Ports, railway stations, military airport were damaged, otherwise Shishkebabshvili would continue the genocide.

Alex Meshkov, Novosibirsk-Beijing, Russia-China

When the Russian bear comes sniffing around the Ukrainian and Polish honey combs it will discover that their bees have stingers. The American hornets with the British wasps will be nearby waiting.

Walter, Victoria, Canada

EU,hahahaha...UN, hahahaha...NATO-SEATO-hahaha, I feel much better now.....where's the three 'mouse-ka-tears',when you need them.....The 'CCCP' is back in business,just ask Putin......

Mr Tim, san marcos, U S of A

That's absolutely right, Georgia is completely at fault here, the EU can't do anything.

oleg Aramyelyev, san antonio, united States

It has been documented that 150 Russian tanks for the invasion went through the Roki tunnel several days before the staged Russian/Ossetian provocation of Georgia. The claim that Georgians were the aggressors here is as ridiculous as Adolf Hitler's similar claims about Poland and Czechoslovakia.

Kevin Finnerty, Atlanta, USA

Alexey, I'm not a supporter of Georgia's actions but since when occupation of foreign country is legal? or perhaps the Russian media didn't mentioned about your soldiers digging trenches around port of Poti...

Kris, Queenstown, NZ

Rather than being really scared of Russia, those 'hawks' mostly seek to gain political profit from this situation, but this is my opinion, nothing more.

Whatever. At least, we see some real international politics here, not like when USA bombed Serbia, Afghanistan or Iraq. :) Let them play.

Vladimir, Novosibirsk, Russia

There are lots of Russian 'facts' that can be denied, Alexey in the Urals. The first is that Russia has broken 15 UN Resolutions it signed guarunteeing Georgia's borders. There is no legality in Russian actions.

You say you want 'respect', when you mean 'fear'.

Ben, Moscow, Russia

I would say that we are going to see more empty gestures and hollow words. The Ukraine and Poland will be next in Russia's sights.

Walter, Portland, U.S.

Actually, there is nothing to punish for. Russia did not break International laws. That is a fact you cannot deny. Georgia is agressor, not Russia - it is a fact you cannot deny. Georgia caused damage to property of S.Ossetia that is more than 1 billion USD.

Alexey, Ural, RF