The Caucasian crisis had been disappearing from the headlines and from TV news, when the statement by Dmitry Medvedev reminded how high the stakes were in the South Ossetia.

Making up for the lost informational war, Medvedev has given a few successive interviews to leading American and European TV stations and has been constantly present on the air, pushing Saakashvili aside for the first time. However, it is unlikely that he has managed to attract sympathies to Russia. The Europeans were shocked with his words meaning that Moscow would not care for another cold war, for its interests’ sake.   

This may be considered as a landmark. While on 11 September 2001 Putin phoned Bush to say that “we are with you, and we share common values”, Medvedev took those words back saying that “we have our own interests, and we can do without you”.  

It seems that the unilateral decision by the Kremlin to redraw the map of the strategically important Caucasus has caught the West off guard and made it concerned. It’s not that no one believed such a scenario was possible, but still there was a hope that the “western-like” Russian President would make a pause for decency reasons. According to some observers, Moscow has challenged Europe and the US, counting that disagreement amid the western governments would cushion any possible damage.   

All references by the Kremlin to precedents work poorly. Well, when Americans bypassed the adamant due to the Russian veto UN Security Council, they always had gathered some coalition before making a blow somewhere or recognizing someone. So they did in Yugoslavia and even about Iraq where they were in minority. In the new age, where the international law of the Yalta and San Francisco has turned into guide for action instead of dogma, the coalition enables getting some legitimacy. Kosovo was recognized by over 40 states that are no small change on the planet.     

As for Russia, she acted on her own. On the Wednesday morning there was no vote for. There was only condemnation, a chorus of votes saying that’s illegitimate and unacceptable.   

It was no surprise that the Kremlin’s decision would be condemned not only by the President Bush but also by both candidates – Barak Obama and John McCain. The sharp assessment by Great Britain saying about “aggression” and calling to forming a broad European coalition was not unexpected either. David Miliband, the head of the foreign office, made for Kiev immediately to support the Russia’s neighbors. The Sweden government considers that Russia has made a choice for confrontation with the West and that is going affect her relations with the rest of the world. The NATO General Secretary Yaap de Hoop Schaeffer has noted that actions by Russia make one doubt about her aspiration for peace and stability in the Caucasus.     

That was expected voice of condemnation. However, the German chancellor Angela Merkel, who is considered to be nearly the leader of the pro-Russian lobby in the EU and NATO, has also spoken against the Kremlin. In April she blocked giving the action plan for joining NATO to Georgia and Ukraine, and at the EU summits she held back the sharp gestures towards Russia. Now her face bears a sign of disappointment and special responsibility, if not guilt.   

The French President Nicolas Sarkosy, who had been thinking of the main peacemaker’s laurels, also found himself in an embarrassed position. Factually, the arranged by him peaceful plan has been messed up with the exception of cease-fire. The statement of the French EU chairmanship, delivered by the spokesperson, is done in a demanding manner: support expressed for sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia, appeal to political settlement of the conflict, promise to examine the international consequences of the Russia’s decision.   

Rome also seems to have forgotten about personal relationship by Italian and Russian leaders and special oil and gas interests. Franco Frattini, the Italian foreign minister, has warned against “Balkanization of the Caucasus on the ethnic grounds”, which “creates a real threat for all of us”. By the way, Italy being a host of the next G8 summit is to make the guest list. Another G8 member, Japan, has also called Russia to responsible actions for the safety in the region. Tokyo is concerned. 

Serbia is not complimentary either with actions by Moscow. Its foreign ministry made a statement with poorly veiled criticism towards the Russian leadership. Serbians are watching “with concern” the developments in the Caucasus, hinting that one should be consistent if one speaks against Kosovo independence.   

Adding there the careful UNO General Secretary Pan Ghi Mun and the diplomatically reserved OSCE chair, Alexander Stubb, the Finnish foreign minister, then we get a gloomy picture. 

The European diplomatic hive is in a buzz on the eve of the special EU summit that is to be held on 1 September in Brussels. Initially, the French President resisted the pressure by Poland and other countries and was not in a hurry to call a summit, intending to hold a discussion within the framework of informal meeting by foreign ministers on 5 September in Avignon. However, his patience came to an end, when it became clear that Russian militaries were not going to leave Georgia. The new developments promise to make this summit even brisker.  

The decision of approval of the resolution by the State Duma and Federation Council is felt in Brussels and European capitals as preparation for annexing the South Ossetia and probably Abkhazia by Russia. It’s too early now to speak about reaction by America that is busy with coming elections, while the EU has restricted possibilities. It has neither stick nor carrot to influence Russia. Major part of joint projects is mutually profitable. The European Commission stated it wants to see Russia in the WTO. The new basic EU-Russia partnership agreement, the talks on which were started in July, is to fix reliable and transparent rules of the energy carriers supplies.    

This is why the politically united front towards Russia and confirmation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia is the maximum program for the Brussels’ summit. No one is speaking about breaking up relations with Russia or sanctions against her. However, as it was stated by Angela Merkel, the attitude towards Russia cannot remain same, as if nothing has happened. This is maybe even worse than temporary sanctions. The faith is shaken and that is going to have its effect in everything.