Russian president Dmitry Medvedev today promised Russia would fulfil its promise to withdraw troops from areas of Georgia outside two separatist regions.

EU observers, including four Irish personnel, will begin monitoring a ceasefire between Georgia and Russia in the former Soviet state today.

The fall-out from last month's war in Georgia is set to dominate talks in Dublin today between Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

Only Russia and the “states” of South Ossetia and Abkhazia will decide how many troops Moscow can keep on their soil, prime minister Vladimir Putin has said.

Diplomats from every Nato nation have demanded immediate Russian withdrawal from Georgia in a show of support from the US ally's capital that made no promise of faster membership in the alliance.

Russian forces and their separatist militia allies are keeping international monitors out of South Ossetia, according to confidential documents today.

Washington would back Ukraine in case of a territorial dispute, a senior US diplomat said today.

A senior Western diplomat says talks with Russia have collapsed on the sensitive issue of sending additional international monitors to keep tabs on South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

The UN chief said today he is considering setting up peacekeeping missions in Georgia's separatist areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where Russia seized control with thousands of troops.

Russia’s prime minister Vladimir Putin today defended Russia’s war in Georgia and insisted that Russia has no intention of annexing the territory of former Soviet republics.

The breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia intends to become part of Russia, news agencies reported today.

Russian ballistic rockets could be aimed at US missile defences in Europe if the system is ever built, the commander of Russia’s strategic missile forces said today

Russia will station nearly 8,000 troops in two breakaway Georgian provinces, officials said today.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev says Russian troops will pull out of Georgian territory outside of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after European monitors deploy next month.

US Vice President Dick Cheney said today that Russia's actions in the conflict with Georgia are an "affront to civilised standards" and "completely unacceptable".

European Union foreign ministers appealed to Moscow today to follow through on commitments to withdraw its forces from Georgia under a ceasefire plan.

Nicaragua today became the first country other than Russia to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev sternly warned the West that it would lose more than Moscow if it tried to punish Russia with sanctions over the war with Georgia.

Moscow does not fear expulsion from the G8 over the war in Georgia, Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said tonight – adding that the West needs Russia.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned today he would respond to the increased number of Nato ships in the Black Sea in the aftermath of the war with Georgia.

Russia today criticised the European Union for threatening to postpone talks on a new partnership deal over the war in Georgia.

EU leaders have agreed to suspend talks on a new partnership deal with Moscow until Russian troops have withdrawn from Georgia.

Russia warned the West against supporting Georgia’s leadership, calling for an arms embargo against the ex-Soviet republic until a different government was in place.

Russia today warned the West against supporting Georgia’s leadership and called for an arms embargo against the nation until a different government was in place.

President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will provide military aid to Georgia’s breakaway provinces.

Thousands of refugees from the Russia-Georgia fighting this month are being told by Russian soldiers that their security cannot be guaranteed if they return to their homes, a United Nations agency said today.

Georgia has pulled out of a 1994 United Nations agreement that ended the war in the separatist region of Abkhazia, a Georgian cabinet minister said today.

Vladimir Putin said tonight that Russia will not be isolated over its conduct in Georgia and implied he does not fear any Western sanctions.

Georgia’s breakaway province of South Ossetia said today it will eventually become Russian territory.

Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin today accused the US of starting the fighting in Georgia.

Russia’s hopes of international support over Georgia were dealt a blow today when an Asian security alliance denounced the use of force and called for respect for every country’s territorial integrity.

Forces in South Ossetia shot down an unmanned Georgian spy plane, the interior minister of the separatist-held region said today.

China and other members of an Asian security group were today being asked to sign a declaration of support today for Russia’s role in the Georgia conflict.

A US military ship carrying aid supplies arrived at the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi today after avoiding its original destination of Poti, still controlled by Russian forces.

A US military ship carrying humanitarian aid today docked at the Georgian port of Batumi.

A US Embassy spokesman says plans have been cancelled to try to dock a military ship carrying humanitarian aid in the Georgian port of Poti, where Russian forces are posted on the outskirts.

European nations rushed to criticise Russia’s decision to recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence today.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev today officially recognised the independence of the breakaway Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

Britain urged Russia not to sever ties with Nato today amid continuing fall-out from the Georgia crisis.

Russian lawmakers today asked President Dimitry Medvedev to recognise the independence of Georgia’s two rebel provinces.

A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid for Georgia has anchored in the southern Georgian port of Batumi.

Residents of Gori began returning to their homes today, two weeks after fleeing as Russian forces bore down on the strategic Georgian city.

The European Commission has today allocated €5m in humanitarian aid for victims of the conflict between Georgia and the Russian Federation.

Russia and key Western nations remained at odds today over a United Nations resolution aimed at bringing peace to Georgia.