President George W. Bush told Russia yesterday to end the crisis with Georgia and ordered Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to Tbilisi to show "unwavering" US support for the former Soviet republic.
Mr Bush, who spoke with Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili earlier in the day, also ordered the US military to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia. His moves marked the strongest show of support for Georgia yet from Washington.
"The United States of America stands with the democratically elected government of Georgia. We insist that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia be respected," Mr Bush told reporters at the White House. "Russia must keep its word and act to end this crisis."
The conflict erupted last week when Georgia sent forces to retake South Ossetia, a pro-Russian, Georgian province that threw off Georgian rule in the 1990s. Moscow responded with a massive counter-attack that overwhelmed Georgian forces.
Russia and Georgia agreed to a cease-fire but reports persisted that Moscow was still conducting military assaults. Flanked by Ms Rice and Defence Secretary Robert Gates in the Rose Garden, Mr Bush said he was concerned about reports that Russian forces were blocking roads and access to the port in Poti, and blowing up Georgian vessels. While Moscow has denied violating the cease-fire, Mr Bush cited reports that Russian units had taken up positions inside Georgia that allow them to threaten Tbilisi. The US expects Russia to allow humanitarian aid into Georgia and ensure that all lines of communication and transport remain open, Mr Bush said. The Pentagon said Russia had been informed of US plans to deliver aid.
A C-17 aircraft with humanitarian supplies has arrived in Georgia, and it will be followed in coming days by more US military aircraft and naval forces delivering humanitarian and medical aid, the White House said.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the C-17 aircraft, would carry medical supplies as well as shelter and bedding material and a second flight was planned for today. The US expects Russia to stop all military activities in Georgia and withdraw forces that entered in recent days, Mr Bush said.
Janusz Bugajski, director of the New Democracies programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said President Bush's actions should "persuade Russia from any further aggression."
"I wouldn't stake a lot of money on it, but I wouldn't think Russia would want to provoke something with the United States," Mr Bugajski said.
Meanwhile Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has resorted to increasingly fiery language as his conflict with Russia unfolded, comparing Moscow to Nazi Germany and accusing Russian soldiers of looting toilet seats. Speaking on CBS yesterday, Mr Saakashvili, a media darling whose passionate pro-Western speeches have irritated Russia, said Russian troops were rampaging through his country.