Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced the signing of a decree that recognized the Georgian territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states on August 26, 2008. Georgia had retained sovereignty over both South Ossetia and Abkhazia since the early 1990s.

Dmitry Medvedev: "It stands quite clear now: a peaceful resolution of the conflict was not part of Tbilisi's plan. The Georgian leadership was methodically preparing for war, while the political and material support provided by their foreign guardians only served to reinforce the perception of their own impunity."The Associated Press: Text of Medvedev's Georgia announcement (August 26, 2008)

Mikhail Saakashvili: "Russia has made an extraordinary strategic mistake and has badly damaged its place in modern international relations."BBC: West condemns Russia over Georgia (August 26, 2008)

George W. Bush: "Georgia's territorial integrity and borders must command the same respect as every other nation's, including Russia's."The Associated Press: Bush opposes independence for 2 regions in Georgia (August 25, 2008)