Such bloody conflicts can be avoided if there were an Euroasian collective security system which includes Russia. NATO refuses to admit Russia as its member and western politicians didn't take seriously russian proposal to establish such a treat. What are we supposed to think about NATO intentions?

Sergey, Novosibirsk, Russia

When Israel can attack palestine on regular basis, when USA can attack IRAQ, AFGHAN and some parts of PAKISTAN. Why not Russia ?

ISrael and USA can do one thing, same cannot be done by a Second Major power ??

Kumar, Chennai, India

Today President Yushchenko and his opinion is very unpopular in own country and supported by about 6% of population only. Probably even Saakashvili has a more supporters in Georgia; regretfully we cannot get a truthful number of his followers.

Alexey, Moscow,

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada – According to all poles in Ukraine about 75% of its population do not desire to be connected to NATO and the number is not reducing despite official budget spending on propaganda of NATO. In addition the vast majority of Ukrainians support Russia at the Five Day War too.

Alexey, Moscow,

This year marks 75th anniversary of the russian made genocide in Ukraine in 1932-1933, by starving ten million ukrainans.
Do not let this happen to you ! Or your country!. Ask any ukrainian , they can tell you about russian KGB, and KGB leader Vladimir putin nd his qualifications !
UGFF_USA

UGFF_USA, chicago, usa

No, believe me, to the Russians it is still 1968, of that there is no doubt. I dont know the facts but I feel that Russia has overreacted on this one or maybe even played a hand in provoking the Georgians to attack S.O.

Mark, London, UK

Zorab, Umeå
Lebanon? Were the Georgians firing missiles into Russia and kidnapping Russians, I think not. The Russians more than likely provoked the Georgians to strike S.O and then they made there move.

Mike, London, UK

Trashing Russia, unfortunately, seems to be the flavour of the season... doesn't matter if it was the Georgians who thrust into S.Ossetia .!! The West is being extremely hypocritical in criticising Russia.

Ashok, Bangalore, India

every country except USA and its allies, recieve double standard treatment even if it is a superpower like Russia.The cost of 2thousand Russian lives is less than of georgias territorial integrity,when georgia is the agressor.
Russ attack on military target is less legitimate then flattening a city.

sartaz, dhaka, bangladesh

It is a set back for Russia, which was on a road to reform, improving economy and opening up to the free world. Now all of a sudden they seem to want to return to the cold war, invading and even threats of using nuclear weapons. This well certainly help USA and East and West Europe unite...

John B, Los Angeles, USA

Am I the only Western reader of this column that remembers how this started? There was a brutal Georgian incursion into South Ossetia. The Ossetians never wanted to be part of Georgia. When the Serbs did the same in Kosovo we (NATO) went to war with them. How is the Russian action worse?

andrewc, Birmingham, UK

It would be amazing to see the difference in opinion if, hypothetically speaking, the United States and Russia switched places. Georgia flirting with the West is the same as Cuba flirting with the USSR.

Colin, Jackson, United States

Russian looks foolish now as it's been shown to have instigated the conflict with its proxies attacking Georgia, exaggerating the loss of life among Ossetians (plus the obvious fact that they'd pre-plande the logistics and scope). Only rabid Bush haters ignore Putin's chauvanistic invasion.

Chuck, K-town, Germany

The Russian government is acting like a spoiled child, whining when other nations assert their sovereignty.

Geoff, Georgia, USA

Russia is now and always will be a rogue nation. Some Russians want to blame the United States for everything. I guess they forgot Hungary, Yugoslavia, The Baltics, Afghanistan in the 1980s, Korea in the the 1950s and Poland in WWII.

William , Jacksonville, United States

Amazing. Even here you blame Bush. Why is the US sending leaders to Georgia while Europes leaders complain from guilded palaces from bygone empires? Why is it US planes sending aid while Europe talks and people die like in Darfur? This winter will you cry No blood for Oil while taking Russian oil?

William, Atlanta, USA

Russia is no different to Nazi Germany in the 1930's. They are heavily armed, have visions of a ":greater Russia(Germany)", are surrounded by militarily weaker nations, and do not care what the rest of the world thinks of them. This is a potentially explosive situation

Alan Breck, Ontario, Canada

People are screaming stop the Russian invasion of georgia. Where were you when ISRAEL INVADED LEBANON over ONE kidnapped soldier!? 10 Russian peacekeepers have died and Russia has apperantly no right to defend them and their population in S. Ossetia after the Georgian attack?!

Zorab, Umeå,

Russian did NOT attack Georgia first (it waited that foolish Sakashvili to do it ). Will Yushenko be as fool as Sakashvili ? Then no need to Russians to attack: half Ukraine (from Crimea, to Odessa, to Kharkov) is pro-Russia like Ossetia (and it is the richer part of the country: ports, coal, etc.).

Leonard, Sardinia,

If the US reacted to Russian missiles in Cuba, how do we expect Russia to react to US systems on historic Russian territory? This disastrous provocation needs to stop and US-backed demagogues need to be reined in. Russia will not give up its main naval base to NATO. Don't let Bush start WW 3

A Abilla, York, England

It is disappointing that Ukrain hasn't learnt anything from the current conflict. When push comes to shove, NATO, Europe nor USA won't be their to support them if Russia does invade. Because to loose Ukrain is better than to risk an all out conflict with Russia. Look back to history.

Dominik, london,

Russian government has shown that they are not capable to accept rues of civilized relations.
Putin and Co act in the KGB style. Despite destructions in Georgia, the real loosers are Russians.

Ukraine has much stronger potential as Georgia. If Russia invades Ukraine, it will be 3rd WW.

Serhiy, Stockholm, Sweden

Ivars: too bad the US never undersood that the cold was over. Now they seem to be finally getting exactly what they were working for.
Jill: is it be much better if they are NOT neighbors, like Panama, Iraq, Yugoslavia?

Sergey, Moscow,

"Operation Nifty Package" :
In 1983 we invaded Panama, picked up its chief executive by the nape of his neck, and tossed him in our jail as a common criminal. Now we know how Latin Americans feel.

Philip C Lehar, Boston , USA

Russia will not tolerate unaligned countries on its borders. If the Ukraine cannot join NATO and be aligned with the West, Russia will force the Ukraine to ally with Russia.

The people of the Ukraine must be desperate and panicked. I know in their position I would be.

Keith S, Winnipeg, Canada

It is time for diplomats and politicians to start talking for the benefit of their people. They seem to want to use militiary menas which may provide benefit to military suppliers, but never the people of their country. This comment includes Russia, America and any other country.

Martin, Morges, Switzerland

Good day!
It was said that according to agreements in the case of war sides can use nuclear weapon against the countries with nuclear weapon and against the contries wich are collaborating with "nuclear" countries.Nogovitsyn remembered about this fact to some countries.

Dmitry, Sankt-Petersburg, Russia

It is time to withdraw all investments from Russia. Putin and his puppet Medvedev are totally untrustworthy. State sponsored corruption appears to be the norm. Any company or individual who invests a penny in Russia is betting on a roulette wheel with 35 zeros.

David Croker, St Amand, FRANCE

If the Russians do as they say (they probably will) and ignore the expiration of the lease in 2017, then why should Ukraine continue to honor that agreement now.

Mike, Washington, DC, USA

The biggest threat to the world peace is NATO, because this is vertually the only organization to have a habit to bomb and occupay other countries no matter how far those countries are form the block. Just recall Iraq, Yugoslavia, Afganistan, Livia etc. NATO should be dismissed immediatedly!!!

Evgeny, Moscow, Russia

To those who believe that it is Russia to blame. Just imagine Russian military bases in Cuba, Venesuala or even in Mexica. What would feel americans about that? NATO is aggressive and extremely dangerouse organization. Russia has to find ways to protect itself.

Evgeny, Moscow, Russia

If you wish to grant NATO''s claim for Black Sea ports then go call it some other name to justify it - Crimea has been Russian territory for ages and Russian fleet there is a guarantee of peace which appears to be so fragile thanks to US puppets. Stop flaming the world up.

Mariya, St.Petersburg, Russia

Please somebody remind Russia that it is 2008 and not 1968 - good on the Ukranians !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ian payne, walsall,

how lovely life was in western europe when the Iron Curtain was in place.Is it possible for us to install one along the Russian border

Dan Hughes, Wonthaggi, Australia

Russia has only itself to blame for this development. Invading a neighbor, trashing its infrastructure, and threatening to nuke countries does not make other neighbors feel secure. It doesn't help that Russia has threatened to ignore the port lease expiration in 2017 since Ukraine won't renew it.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Some time ago Russians claimed that there is no point for any country to join NATO as the organization is obselete. They were (I think intentionally) wrong. Russia is getting more aggressive day by day and I start to long for good old days of Cold War.

Ivars, Riga, Latvia