Despite Russia’s overwhelming advantage in size and firepower in its conflict with Georgia, the Kremlin may have the most to lose. It is too soon to know with certainty who was responsible for the initial outbreak of violence in South Ossetia, but the war that began there is no longer about Georgia’s breakaway regions or Russian peacekeepers.

By acting disproportionately with a full-scale attack on Georgia and seeking the ousting of its democratically-elected President Mikheil Saakashvili, Moscow is jeopardising its standing in Europe and in the world.