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Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  The armed power struggle between Russia and Georgia lasted just a few days, but that was time enough to do serious damage to diplomatic relations between East and West. Russia’s former president and now prime minister Vladimir Putin appears to have achieved one objective – to destabilize Georgia and further hamper its bid to join NATO. The conflict has also strengthened the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia in their drive for independence.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  The past several years have seen a dramatic deterioration in ties between Russia and the former Soviet republic. The recent open hostilities are the latest twist in a long line of mutual provocations.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili Russia’s military response in Georgia triggered shockwaves around the international community. Many observers see the conflict as a classic show of strength by the Kremlin, demonstrating its power in the region by punishing an openly pro-Western government. Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili’s calculated gamble of marching into South Ossetia failed to enlist the support of the West. Instead he provided the pretext Moscow needed to intervene, knowing that Western powers would almost certainly not risk a direct conflict with the Russian army.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  President Bush makes a statement about the situation in Georgia in the Rose Garden of the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2008, in Washington. Bush said that Russia must reverse course in Georgia and withdraw its troops. The crisis in the Caucasus has caused major tensions in international relations with Russia. The United Nations Security Council witnessed a heated exchange between Russian and US ambassadors, harking back to the rhetoric of the Cold War.

Europe is still debating its role in the crisis. EU foreign ministers now back the idea of an international peacekeeping presence in Georgia, but so far Russia has resisted outside intervention in a region where it still wants to call the shots.

We want to hear your views: Crisis in the Caucasus – A new Cold War between Russia and the West?

Write to us at Quadriga@dw-world.de

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Our guests were:

Ivan Rodionov - After gaining a German studies degree and a qualification as an interpreter in Moscow, Ivan Rodinov initially worked as a translator for German media. As a producer and Russian editor, he supported the work of the ZDF team at the channel's Moscow studios. As a freelancer, he reported for various Russian broadcasters such as ORT, Ren-TV and TVS. He has been working as a journalist for the Russian national broadcaster RTR since 2003, taking up the post of Germany correspondent in 2005.

Gesine Dornblueth – After majoring in Slavic studies and journalism in Hamburg, Gesine Dornblueth began work as a reporter in 1992. As a correspondent for Deutschland Radio, Deutsche Welle and Germany’s public broadcaster ARD, she has covered stories on Russia, the Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Republic of Moldova and the Balkans. Her main areas of interest include regional conflicts, the transition to democracy, human rights and society.

Bildunterschrift: Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:  Noah Barkin – Born in Boston and raised in California, he has been working for Reuters for 15 years, including stints in New York, London and Paris. Since 2004, he has worked in Berlin, running Reuters text coverage of German political and economic news.