4um: George Bush squares up to Vladimir Putin over Georgia

In full: George Bush's statement | Journalist in brush with death | Ethnic violence warning | Text of the ceasefire agreement

President Bush dispatched US military hardware to the heart of the Caucasus yesterday and warned Russia that it could be frozen out of international bodies as punishment for its aggression in Georgia.

In his toughest criticism of Russia since becoming President, Mr Bush accused it of breaching the provisional ceasefire agreed with Georgia only 24 hours earlier.

He cited intelligence showing that Russian troops had again taken the town of Gori and could threaten the capital, Tbilisi. He insisted that Moscow respect the former Soviet republic’s territorial integrity. There were also reports of Russian-backed militia in South Ossetia looting ethnic Georgian villages and killing inhabitants.

“To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis,” Mr Bush said.

The US is holding talks with its allies, including Britain, about whether to suspend Russia’s prized membership of the G8 club of industrialised nations. There is a growing clamour to block Russia from becoming part of the World Trade Organisation and to rescind an invitation for it to join the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Mr Bush’s statement, delivered in stern tones outside the White House, was significantly stronger than that made last week, when his cautious comments reflected the State Department’s unhappiness with Georgia’s use of force against pro-Russian separatist rebels in South Ossetia.

Although direct military intervention is not being considered, Pentagon sources have hinted that a limited number of troops could be deployed to support what Mr Bush described as a vigorous and ongoing humanitarian mission headed by the US military.

The first US air force transport aircraft had already arrived last night Mr Bush said that more would follow. Meanwhile, the navy was heading to the Black Sea – at present controlled by Russian warships – to deliver humanitarian and medical supplies direct to Georgian ports. “We expect Russia to honour its commitment to let in all forms of humanitarian assistance,” Mr Bush said. “We expect Russia to ensure that all lines of communication and transport, including seaports, airports, roads and air space, remain open for the delivery of humanitarian assistance and civilian transit.”

President Saakashvili of Georgia seized on the announcement to say that Tbilisi airport and Poti port would be placed under US military control, a claim the Pentagon swiftly denied.

Condoleezza Rice, the US Secretary of State, was flying to France last night to meet President Sarkozy, who led EU efforts to broker peace, before heading to Tbilisi.

The Georgian President had accused the US of failing to stand up for liberty and of squandering its support among former Soviet republics. Western diplomats say that they have limited room for manoeuvre and little leverage against a Kremlin in which, they say, the strings are still being pulled by Vladimir Putin, the former President. The most likely sanctions are those that would damage Russia’s prestige.

Mr Bush said: “Russia has sought to integrate into the diplomatic, political, economic and security structures of the 21st century. Now Russia is putting its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions.”

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said that the EU should reassess plans for a partnership agreement with Russia. “We’ve got to make sure that the Russians realise that they do have rights in the international system but they must be allied with responsibilities,” he said. “And when responsibilities are not upheld, there are political consequences.”

John McCain, the Republican presidential nominee, reiterated his hard-line call for Russia to be thrown out of the G8 because it had failed to maintain democratic reforms. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, has been more cautious.

Richard Holbrooke, the former US Ambassador to the United Nations, has called for the West to reconsider participation at the 2014 Winter Olympics, which Russia plans to host in Sochi, 25 miles from the war zone.

For the time being, measures being taken have been limited to a US boycott of a Nato meeting with a Russian delegation and the likely cancellation of a joint naval exercise.

George Bush squares up to Vladimir Putin over Georgia

The Russia-Georgia grudge match

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