TBILISI, Georgia (AP) – The United States and Georgia are moving to expand their defense relations in the face of growing aggression by neighboring Russia.
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says Russia President Vladimir Putin’s (POO’-tihn) move to annex the Crimea region of Ukraine has further isolated Moscow.
Georgia’s Defense Minister Irakli Alasania (ir-AHK’-lee al-uh-SAHN’-ee-ah) says it’s been painful for his country — which also fought and lost an invasion by Russia in 2008 — to see the world unable to check Russian aggression. About 20 percent of Georgia — largely the separatist regions of Abkhazia (ab-KAH’-zhee-uh) and South Ossetia (oh-SET’-yuh) — is still occupied by Russia.
Ukraine and Russia signed a cease-fire two days ago, but there’ve been explosions near the airport in Donetsk (dah-NETSK’), raising concerns that the agreement may collapse.