Russia dictates terms to end hostilities in Georgia

DICTATING PEACE: It seems that Kremlin wants to ensure peace but only on its terms.

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New Delhi: Russia's President Medvedev has ordered his forces to end the fighting in Georgia, now that their goal of driving Georgian forces out of South Ossetia has been achieved.

“The operation carried out by the reinforced peacekeeping forces has finished because we have achieved our objectives,” says President Medvedev.

However, the Georgians say Russian forces are only a few hours drive from the capital Tbilisi and that the central town of Gori is being hit by Russian artillery.

Russia denies it but it is clearly dictating the conditions for putting a complete end to hostilities.

“Georgian troops should return to their initial positions and we need to sign a binding agreement on non-use of force,” says Medvedev.

French President Sarkozy has now arrived in Moscow in a bid to end the standoff.

“We must draw up a rapid calendar so that each side can go back to the positions of before the crisis,” says Sarkozy.

But his ability to influence the Russians appears limited. Europe is heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas, which is why Sarkozy may not be able to influence Russia against insisting that Georgian President Saakashvilli resign.

Russia has already ruled out any return of Georgian troops to South Ossetia or a joint Russian-Georgian peacekeeping force in that region. It seems that Kremlin wants to ensure peace but only on its terms.