Kosovo officially declares independence from Serbia. It is recognized by Western nations, led by the United States and the European Union. In Russia, Putin does not accept this decision passively and considers countermeasures: four days later, he calls Georgian President Saakashvili to Moscow and tells him: “We must answer to the West about the Kosovo issue, you know. We are very sorry, but you are part of the answer. It’s not Georgia’s fault, but your geography is what it is.” Soon after, Russia will occupy Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions of Georgia with a large Russian-speaking community, and will establish strong economic, political, and legal ties with these regions.
