Vladimir Putin

February 11, 2009 -- “Ensuring reliable access to Eurasia’s energy at a reasonable price is among the most crucial strategic imperatives for Europe and, by extension, for Europe’s allies in the United States,” finds a new Council Special Report, Eurasian Energy Security. The report, authored by Jeffrey Mankoff, adjunct fellow for Russia Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), addresses Europe’s overreliance on Russia as an energy supplier and proposes solutions to mitigate and eventually free Europe from its vulnerability in the energy sphere.    » read more »

Prime Minister says his country will not be “isolationist and egotistic” in the face of unprecedented crisis

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 28 January 2009 − Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation told the opening plenary of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2009 that his country will work with the US, Europe and other countries to resolve the global financial crisis. “We cannot afford to be isolationist and egotistic,” he said, promising that Russia will not resort to protectionism and erect trade barriers that will simply worsen the global financial crisis.    » read more »

August 26, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "I condemn Russia's decision to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states and call upon all countries of the world not to accord any legitimacy to this action.

"The United States should call for a meeting of the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia's decision in coordination with our European allies. The U.S. should lead within the UN and other international forums to cast a clear and unrelenting light on the decision, and to further isolate Russia internationally because of its actions. The OSCE must also send a serious monitoring group to Georgia.    » read more »

August 26, 2008 -- The United States condemns the decision by the Russian President to recognize as independent states the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. This decision is inconsistent with numerous United Nations Security Council Resolutions that Russia has voted for in the past, and is also inconsistent with the French-brokered six-point ceasefire agreement which President Medvedev signed on August 12, 2008.*

The six-point agreement offered a peaceful way forward to resolve the conflict. We expect Russia to live up to its international commitments, reconsider this irresponsible decision, and follow the approach set out in the six-point agreement.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 26, 2008 – President Bush condemned what he called Russia’s “irresponsible decision” today to recognize the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states.

“Russia's action only exacerbates tensions and complicates diplomatic negotiations,” Bush, in Crawford, Texas, said in a statement.

The president’s response comes after a reported announcement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev that Moscow intends to formally recognize the two breakaway provinces in Georgia, where Russia continues to maintain troops in defiance of a cease-fire agreement and mounting international pressure to withdrawal.    » read more »

Aug 26, 2008 -- GORI, Georgia — Members of European Command's Joint Assessment team, accompanied by officials from the government of the Republic of Georgia, toured the embattled city of Gori to assess the level of damage, the status of relief efforts, and the return of displaced persons Aug. 25, 2008.

EUCOM Assessment Team Visits Gori For First Time Since Russian Invasion: TIBILSI, Georgia — U.S. service members from the 21st Theater Sustainment Command arrive on the flightline here, Aug. 18, 2008. (Department of Defense photo by Air Force Staff Sgt. Ricky A. Bloom)    » read more »

August 23, 2008 -- Chicago, IL - Yesterday, Russian military officials announced that the withdrawal of Russian military forces from undisputed Georgian territory was complete. Russian commanders claim to be implementing the ceasefire agreement of August 16, 2008, signed by Russian President Dmitri Medvedev and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, committing Russia to withdraw all military forces sent into Georgia after the 7th of August.    » read more »

August 25, 2008 -- "I am deeply concerned by today's appeal to President Medvedev by Russia's Federation Council and Duma, the upper and lower houses of Russia's parliament, to recognize the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent countries. I call on Russia's leadership to meet its commitments and not recognize these separatist regions.    » read more »

Urges Russia to Cease Military Operations

August 13, 2008 -- THE PRESIDENT: Good morning. I've just met with my national security team to discuss the crisis in Georgia. I've spoken with President Saakashvili of Georgia, and President Sarkozy of France this morning. The United States strongly supports France's efforts, as President of the European Union, to broker an agreement that will end this conflict.

Outgoing president George W. Bush delivers a statement on Georgia: Flanked by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Aug. 13, 2008. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian    » read more »

Washington -- 13 August 2008 -- U.S. President George Bush has announced a massive humanitarian effort in Georgia that would involve American aircraft and naval forces. Analysts say the United States and the West have very little leverage to force Russia to withdraw its forces from Georgia.

Last week Tbilisi sent troops in an effort to take control of the capital of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russia, which had troops based in the area, responded by sending additional manpower, tanks and armored personnel carriers and going on the offensive.

Marshall Goldman is with Harvard University.    » read more »

14 August 2008 -- Georgian officials say Russian forces have begun to pull out of the key Georgian city of Gori, where their continued presence raised fears that Russia would not abide by a French-brokered cease-fire agreement.

Georgia's Interior Ministry also says Georgian police have begun to move into the city just outside the breakaway region of South Ossetia, and along Georgia's main east-west highway.

Much of Gori's population fled just after the fighting between Georgian and Russian troops broke out one week ago. Those who stayed say the city was looted by Russian troops and paramilitaries.

They also complained of kidnappings and murders, but Russian commander Major-General Alexander Borisov told Georgian television Russian troops never entered Gori.    » read more »

August 11, 2008 -- "Good morning. The situation in Georgia continues to deteriorate because of the escalation of Russia's use of military force. I have spoken to President Saakashvili, and conveyed my deep regret over the loss of life, and the suffering of the people of Georgia.

For many months, I have warned that there needs to be active international engagement to peacefully address the disputes over South Ossetia and Abkhazia, including a high-level and neutral international mediator, and a genuine international peacekeeping force - not simply Russian troops.    » read more »

August 09, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- "I just spoke separately with Secretary Rice and President Saakashvili about the grave crisis in Georgia. I told President Saakashvili that I was deeply concerned about the well-being of the people of Georgia.    » read more »

Java, August 13, 2008 – Human Rights Watch researchers in South Ossetia on August 12, 2008, saw ethnic Georgian villages still burning from fires set by South Ossetian militias, witnessed looting by the militias, and learned firsthand of the plight of ethnic Ossetian villagers who had fled Georgian soldiers during the Georgian-Russian conflict over the breakaway region of South Ossetia.    » read more »

April 6, 2008 -- Sochi, Russia -- PRESIDENT PUTIN: (As translated.) Dear Mr. President, may we once again welcome you here in Sochi. I'm very pleased that you've accepted this invitation. And I'm pleased that after the meeting in Bucharest, you now have the opportunity to discuss with me our bilateral relations and security issues.

President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin: White House photo by Chris Greenberg

Yesterday we actually started discussing those issues, and today we have the opportunity to discuss this in a calmer working manner. And on top of all, I am delighted to show you around Sochi, which will be the capital of the Olympic games in 2014.

Welcome, Mr. President.    » read more »