Trifling with words. Heres another news flash: Russia’s tacit if not open support for Abkhazian and South Ossetian independence, declared unilaterally in the 90’s by those provinces is as legitimate as the US’, recognition of the new Muslim state of Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence (and Croatia’s and Bosnia, etc.). Secondly, conquests make nation-states - that’s the stuff of world history. And if Georgia can’t put a lid on a genie it let out of the bottle (by it’s own independence) then give it up and stop trying to start nuclear winter by sucking the West into their internecine struggle.
My point stands. The US recognized Kosovo’s independence. Russia does not recognize South Ossetia’s nor Abkhazia’s independence nor will they because they want these territories to be Russian territories, not independent nations. Therefore, Russia has no moral justification for their actions. They are not supporting an ally’s independence, they are waging a war of conquest against their neighbor.
Is that a two wrongs make a right argument?