NATO’s Russia problem

NATO is demanding that Russia stick to the ceasefire it signed last week. But the NATO Secretary General said today that Russian troops will have to withdraw to their pre-crisis positions. He also announced that the alliance would create a new commission to strengthen ties with Georgia. This was just what Russia did not want to hear, and the Russian Foreign Minister said encouraging Georgia’s NATO aspirations is anti-Russia and Russia is now questioning its relationship with NATO. Some NATO members like France and Germany are lobbying for a more cautious approach to Russia, because Russia is a strategic partner on several diplomatic fronts. This analyst says NATO members understand the stakes and are unlikely to invite Georgia into NATO just yet. There are signs that NATO’s diplomacy is having some effect though.