UK, France, Germany and Italy Warn Russia Against South Ossetia Annexation on 18th War Anniversary
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Post · Aug 8
UK, France, Germany and Italy Warn Russia Against South Ossetia Annexation on 18th War Anniversary
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Post · Aug 8
Summary
A joint statement on Aug. 8 said recent moves in South Ossetia — including a May 9 alliance deal with Moscow and the appointment of a Russian citizen as leader — risk full annexation.
The four governments said any annexation would draw an international response, and again condemned Russia’s military presence and growing militarization in South Ossetia and Abkhazia as breaches of the 2008 ceasefire.
An October 2025 European Court of Human Rights ruling, cited in the statement, held Russia responsible for systemic abuses in the occupied territories, including excessive force, unlawful detentions and movement restrictions.
The allies also welcomed Nauru’s decision to revoke recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, urged other states to follow, and reaffirmed support for the Geneva talks and the EU monitoring mission in Georgia.
The warning comes as Georgia also trims economic exposure to Russia: Kulevi refinery has started processing Kazakh crude and expects Libyan supplies before a Jan. 25, 2027 deadline to phase out Russian feedstock.