Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Nebenzia confirmed that Ukraine had called for a meeting of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council in Kiev on 7 March but said that the Russian Minister and other Ministers were too busy to attend.

The Ukrainian Government has used its prerogative as current Chairman of the CIS to convene a meeting of Foreign Ministers in Kiev on Friday, putting Russia on the spot.

Condemnations continue of Russian occupation of Ukrainian territory. Obama consults his national security team and an EU Summit is scheduled for Thursday.

There is mounting feeling that through its actions Russia has not only violated Ukraine but has also done considerable harm to the international system.

Armenia and Georgia are caught in a geo-political reality that creates awkward moments in their relationship and as they anchor themselves in separate military and economic blocks this relationship will be more difficult in the future.

Cease fire violations decreased considerably during the period of the Sochi Olympic Games, but have been increasing again over the last days.

It is time that taboos are broken, and Georgia should now be given an EU and NATO membership perspective regardless of what Russia says.

The US administration stresses its support for Georgian democracy, independence and territorial integrity during meeting with Georgian PM

The Armenian Foreign Minister met the diplomats from the Minsk Group on Saturday as efforts continue to push for a breakthrough in the stalled negotiations with Azerbaijan. Meanwhile a senior Azerbaijani official described the Minsk Group as "dead".

The Winter Olympic Games in Sochi came to a close with a glitzy ceremony and a feeling that Russia had confounded all skeptics and critics.