Putin’s plan to create empire began by invading Georgia in 2008 - US ambassador

Putin’s plan to create empire began by invading Georgia in 2008 - US ambassador

US ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Thursday said “now the west is well-aware” that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s plan to create an empire began by invading Georgia in 2008. 

 

In her press comments, the diplomat stressed 15 years ago the west “failed” to see the 2008 war as a “sign of the end of a short era that began with Gorbachev's ‘perestroika’ and ended with the return of an aggressive, revanchist Russia”. 

 

"We would very much like to believe that Russia has changed, but now we see that the Kremlin's aggression against its neighbors is part of a long, historical pattern. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Georgia in the 21st century followed its attacks in the 19th and 20th centuries. These attacks are part of a systematic effort by Russia to undermine its neighbors”, Degnan said. 

 

She added Moscow had shown “repeatedly” it would not allow independence or democracy of its neighbors and would use a number of tools to spark internal conflicts and isolate them from their partners.





US ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Thursday said “now the west is well-aware” that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s plan to create an empire began by invading Georgia in 2008. 

 

In her press comments, the diplomat stressed 15 years ago the west “failed” to see the 2008 war as a “sign of the end of a short era that began with Gorbachev's ‘perestroika’ and ended with the return of an aggressive, revanchist Russia”. 

 

"We would very much like to believe that Russia has changed, but now we see that the Kremlin's aggression against its neighbors is part of a long, historical pattern. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Georgia in the 21st century followed its attacks in the 19th and 20th centuries. These attacks are part of a systematic effort by Russia to undermine its neighbors”, Degnan said. 

 

She added Moscow had shown “repeatedly” it would not allow independence or democracy of its neighbors and would use a number of tools to spark internal conflicts and isolate them from their partners.