It is clear that Russia is no longer a full democracy. While it is true that Russia, Ukraine and the USA are heavily Christian nations, Russia is not really run by the people through freely elected representatives. I believe that the US & Europe made a mistake in Kosovo. It should stayed as it was

Bishop David Cooper, Northridge, USA

I would also like to say that the Ukrainian people are more like Americans than any I have ever met. The politics are a shame because Russia, the US, and Ukraine can be natural allies. For instance, all are very very Christian nations.

Edward, Atlanta, US

his wife is American and worked in the Reagan administration. enough said.
but she is from ukrainian family and speaks ukrainian language.and and she loves our contry!

shwiec, lviv, ukraine

Yushchenko has phobia Russia will never atack any country.In Ossetia Russia defended own citizens from georgian's attacks. Instead to worry people in Nato he should start to use antidepressants.Or to open his soul,fears to good person,whom he can trust,for example with rus fm S.Lavrov

Lina, Ufa, Russia

The president os Ukraine should not be delusional. Oil and gas are more important to the West than the sovereignty of his country and that of Georgia. Both the West and the totalitarian Russia and China would easily find reasons or excuses to invade any nation

NIKOI kOTEY, Hazlet, USA

Ukraine will be the next unless President Yushchenko stops his scuffles within the orange coalition. Sometimes his subordinates say such nonsense that I feel ashamed being a citizen of Ukraine. Yushchenko musn't sacrifice the country for his second term in office. We need unity within Ukraine now.

Serhiy, Kyiv, Ukraine

Of course PEACE is desirable..that being said..Kiev was the center and start of greater historic Russia. so that makes the Russians offshoots of the Ukrainians....so Ukraine should claim Russia as a colony..its all so stupid..Leave the Ukraine in peace to follow its own destiny..hands off Putin!

Joel M, Miami, USA

I have only one thing to say: Brest-Litvosk. Are we to see a replay of a century ago as each of these small states is sold down the river by the west and gobbled up by Russian aggression. Protect yourselves! To paraphrase a philosopher 'Together we may hang, but assuredly we wlll hang separately.

Matthew Bruder, Big Rapids, USA

Looks like America is anticipating when it will have to take Iran's oil resources; without Russia being able to prevent it. The Poland missiles and Czech radar are like the "horns of the buffalo" (from Shaka's time, a famous Zulu strategy); as Medvedev says, the Iranian missiles are "a fairy tale".

H. Grattan, Johannesburg, South Africa

USA pretend not to observe that Russia permanently suggest others to build up a international co-existence on the priority of Law, moral norms & ethics principals and actually does so. For your inf.: 98% of the South Osetia people have Russian passports. Ukraine consists of orthodox & catholic parts

Pavel, Moscow, Russia

Ian M Jones: "What has just happened in Georgia?"
Answer: Peace enforcement.

Americans, hands off Ukraine! Stop your dangerous play in the world. Russia and Ukraine are willing to leave in peace. Most of Ukrainians are against NATO. Take away your henchman back in US.

Andrey, Moscow, RUSSIA

america has the technology to knock down a nuke from space before it leaves russian air space. they proved that with north korea. does anybody follow american war technology? if you read it in the news or on the history channel it is already obsolete, probably 20 years old.

sam walters, ironton, ohio, america

one can always gage a country by their immagration. NO ONE is trying to sneak into or seek to live in russia. millions and millions of people want to live in America. how many russians or former communist block people want to move to america and how many americans want to move to russia?

sam walters, ironton, ohio, america

when a country is invaded who do they always call for? America and NATO! who has answered those calls more than anyone? America and NATO! people hate americans until they are under attack and who do they call? NATO! yes, putin is nervous! dictators do that when the U.S. Navy carriers are close.

sam walters, ironton, ohio, america

Highly unlikely Yushchenko can boost his position in the Ukraine where he has been regarded as Berezovsky's puppet ever since Berezovsky threatened to expose Yushchenko's misuse of Berezovsky's $41 million in illegal campaign contributions to Yushchenko's campaign. He is mouthing for Berezovsky.

Brian K. Doan, Washington , USA

Yuschenko is a man of great resilience and statemanship, an example that all the heads of government in the slavonic states would do well to emulate.

David John Marusza, Cardiff, UK

I really do hope Ukraine will soon join Nato, because it wont be long before kremlin will come up with some reason to invade another vulnerable country, which can be easily divided because of its russian population. kremlin uses old tactics, divide and rule. Pathetic!

Dan, London,

Iran has to quickly move to an alliance with Russia before it is attacked by either America or Israel or both.

Frank Williams, Derby, England

The trouble you defenders of Russia who compare US foreign
policy to the Soviets is this. The US never had a Lenin and Stalin wiping out MILLIONS and MILLIONS of their countrymen. The US has due process in law, where the Soviet Union never has. Comparing the two is risible.

Habu, Florida & Montana, United States of America

Russian on the move, horrible.
With Romneys investments in Russian oil, Gazprom and Lukoil, and ties to a Russian company through his brother, McCain has to be insane to even think of Mitt as a VP.

American buy off too easy, and sell their nation out, and others

sammy, new hudson , usa

I cannot blame President Yushchenko for feeling somewhat scared by the Russians. It is apparent that Russia is intent on restoring its influence over former Soviet territories and will justify its intervention through the large Russian minorities that live in these new countries.

Andre, Portland, USA

I live in Russia since I was born. I love my country. I want peace, the genuine peace in the world over. But there are some dirty political matters influenced by money, desire of power, and by other inhuman methods, I thik that in this case we shouldn't to blame for mistakenness only the one side.

Arthur, Ufa, Russia

To rickdog in Dickinson. Just try to change "Russia" to "USA" and "Georgia" to "Iraq / Afganistan / Serbia / Panama / Libya / Grenada / Somalia" in YOUR news. We dont want to be a small coin in the game of politics

Long live Ukraine and Russia. In peace. Despite the wishes of American politicians

Oleg, Kiev, Ukraine

Putin can run Russia by keeping it in the constant tension - Chechen war, Georgian war etc. People in Ukraine really talk of possibility of russian bombings! Putin wants to enter the history by no means...War is the easiest way! Hitler proved it.

Sergey, Zaporizhzhya, Ukraine

"The invasion of Georgia means that NATO must quickly expand eastwards, the Ukrainian President tells The Times" Sounds like an instant recipe for WW3. WW2 left Western Europe in ruins; we've learned our lesson, never again. We must threaten to use our nuclear weapons if attacked & be neutral.

Cirep G Nol, London,

Had the President of Georgia not provoked Russia by bombarding his own Countryman I doubt they would have invaded. And anti-Russion rhetoric from Yushenko along with Bush pursuading Poland to sight anti-ballistic missiles does nothing to enhance good relations. No wonder the Russians are nervous.

Stanley Green, Colchester., UK

Why are we still playing these childish games?
have we not advanced at all in many thousands of years?

All these situations boil down to is the greed of a few ignorant/selfish men.

When will WE, the people of this planet rise above these fools, and exist together in peace?

Andrew, Harrogate, England

Facts. 1. Yushchenko approval rating in Ukraine is
less then 10 % (even worse than W).
2. The majority of Ukrainian do not want to
join NATO (around 60 % against, 20% for).
Everything else is just words.

Andrey, Houston, USA

Putin has had two military victories with many killed (Chechnya and Georgia). It seems understandable that country in which has many similarities with Georgia becomes wary of such peaceloving country whose president/prime minister loves wars so much.

Ket, Tallinn, Estonia

michelle
his wife is american and worked in the reagan administration. what exactly does that say? are you saying that 20 odd years ago reagan forsaw the collapse of the soviet union and that yushenko would be president of an independant ukraine and that this girl could be his puppetier? ok

will, grimsby, uk

NATO is a military bloc not a democracy-propagation one. I would be glad for the Ukrain if they joined EU but not NATO..

Alex, Moscow,

his wife is American and worked in the Reagan administration. enough said.

Michelle, Geneva, Switzerland

Long live Ukraine!!!

Phill, The Wirral, England

Although most individual human beings are kind and reasonable people, only ruthless ones reach the top of the power pyramid, then a savage instinct of leader of the horde takes over, since 4-5 millennia of civilization is far to short time for a significant genetic advancement.

Novak, London,

Yet another rubbish from yet another american puppet who has even got a green card. He does what he is told from the White House - that is the reality not the "invasion".

Nikolay Firov, N.Novgorod, Russia

Looks like the Russian invasion/occupation of Georgia has backfired badly. Violence usually does.

John, Cleggan, Ireland

To Alex in san jose, wake up, read the news. Russia has already invaded Georgis, they are still there. They have promised to leave for several days and are not leaving. You are speaking from emotion and are not paying attention to the facts on the ground.

rickdog, Dickinson, USA

'As a young man, the President had direct experience of Russia's fear of encirclement — he did national service as a KGB border guard on the Soviet-Turkish border. '

Will doing the national service on the British border be an experience of Britain's fear of encirclement? What a pathetic rubbish!

slav, London,

People are suggesting that Russia would not invade Georgia or the Ukraine, What has just happened in Georgia?

Ian M Jones, Reading, UK

Yushchenko is turning to the West because he has no power base in Ukraine. He came third in the elections and if it wasn't for a coalition with Tymoshenko who he is now accusing of treason, he wouldn't even be president. He wants to use situ to increase his power to get rid of his opponents,

DCH, Nottingham , united Kingdom

Are you people serious? Russian invasion to Georgia, Ukraine, are you insane completely? I have part of my family in Russia, part in Ukraine, people just hate corrupted politicians in both countries, but do you truly believe that is in Russia interests to "invade" Georgia or Ukraine?

Alex, San Jose, United States

There is a very simple way to settle which way Ukraine, Georgia, and any other former Soviet satellite should go. ASK THEM! Have an official election in each country with international observers present to determine which direction they want their alliances to follow. Then GIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT!

PC, Salem, OR, USA

The 'somewhat ineffective' president is trying to play the Georgia fears card in order to bolster his tumbling rating, that's all. Meanwhile, most Ukrainians seem to be in favor of joining EU, but not NATO. Clamoring for membership is not going to help him but will only split the country even more.

Gramps, London,

If Russia really wanted to 'protect Russian minorities' in other states, it should consider methods that do not involve tanks and warplanes - i.e., use political means instead of military ones. This, of course, is too timid for the Russian bear, who only understands force, rather than thought.

Jeff, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Andrew, get over it! The Russian aren't protecting "their" people. South Ossetia in Georgian territory! Those people are therefore Georgrian citizens. By your theory the Russians should be able to invade any country with a large Russian speaking population. Please get YOUR fundamentals right!

Javier W, San Diego, CA, USA

“It is the first time in Europe since the Cold War that a foreign army has entered the territory of a sovereign state without any internationally accepted legal basis”

What about NATO entering Serbia in 1999?

Petar, Belgrade,

I'm an ukrainian american. I was born in Lviv, and I still remember very well russian invasion. No freedom, no religion, no democracy. We are part of Europe, we live the true values and we refuse moscow autoriterian regime. I see many responses made by paid russian image makers. Be aware!

Seve, Florida, USA

Ukraine will NOT be part of Russia. Russia is losing its influence and power, and the only way they know how to get it back is by bullying and intimidation. It's unfortunate that Nato and EU disregard this. They are putting the security and stability of Europe in jeopardy by avoiding the issue

Bohdana, Lutsk, Ukraine

So the West has been provoking Russia by expanding NATO. Which is more provocative: inviting democracies to join an alliance; selling nuclear technology to Iran; or invading an independent democracy, wrecking its infrastructure, & lying about pulling out? Ukraine is right to be nervous.

Jill, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

Dear US observers! Ukraine is an integral part of Russia, we will never let is go west whether you like it or not.

Alexander, Moscow, Russia

Scenario: Authoritarian Russia recaptures the Ukraine; Europe eventually succumbs to Russia; Russia sends in troops from recaptured states, Ukraine/Georgia etc., to occupy Western Europe, what do you think their attitude will be towards the newly conquered who so casually &cynically betrayed them?

Dr Andris Lielmanis, Brampton, Canada.

I think most of the current crisis is of our leaders making. The west (United States) has been actively provoking Russia for years by expanding NATO right up to Russian borders and the proposed missile defence shield. It doesn't take a genius to work out that the Russians will respond in some way.

Steve, Brisbane, Australia

Well, tha latest Ukrainian polls sugget Yushenko having just 7% of support among the Ukranian population. It is too naive to believe that his statements express either the veiws of the majority of the population, or the future developments in Ukraine.

Anna, Aarhus, Denmark

The Western media appear to have forgotten the fundamentals. Georgia persectued the South Ossetians and Russia moved to protect its people in that region. Please, please can we avoid the British/USA tendency to simplify everything, and invade everyone!

Andrew MacMillan, London, UK

To paraphrase John Milton "They also die who only sit and wait" ie by not defending the rights of Ukraina (still misspelled Ukraine since the days of Boplan) the weakened NATO and EU will also return to Rossian "influence" as it was during the Warshaw Pact. It needs Estonian courage, Lietuvian dare.

Anatolij Onishko Sen, Canberra ACT 2603, Australia

No, Not another bloody war.

Back off all of you please

Andrea, London,

Is NATO prepared to go to war with Russia over the
Ukraine. I think not.

Bruce Northwood, Silver Spring, USA

Yushchenko is not Ukraine, he is currently supported by 3% of the Ukrainian population. Ukrainians would be much happier to join Russia instead of NATO, and to suggest otherwise means to be completely deluded.

Ray, Toronto,

Yushchenko afraid of pro-Russian majority and want to sell Ukraine himself.

Alexey L.N., Novosibirsk, Russia

Yuschenko is a hero the world should not ignore. Tomorrow we march in New York City in support of Ukraine and Georgia's bid to become part of NATO. Those who would deny these European countries entry into this military alliance are ignorant of how quickly Russian can destroy a civil society.

Greg, Montreal, Canada

If Yushchenko thinks US & NATO would help him when the chips are really down, he is sadly mistaken. The US will never go to a shooting war with Russia if there is a possibility of a Russian nuclear warhead dropping on US soil. Before he gets too anti Russian, remember the price of gas will go up.

George, London, UK

I wish Your Words Our Dearest President were heard in the West. I'm afraid that oil and gas are more important for the western countries than their neighbors lives. May God Save Ukraine!

Andriy, Ternopil', Ukraine

Yushchenko, unlike jaded leftists in Western Europe, has enough existential experience to understand the reality of totalitarian and imperialistic tendencies in "New Russia" of Colonel Putin and that alignment with US/Nato will help preserve sovereignty of Ukraine.

John, Detroit, USA