Russia Says Ukraine, Georgia are Sovereign

In some welcome news from an area we haven't seen much lately, Russia acknowledged that both Ukraine and Georgia , are no longer part of the Russian orbit.

....the Russian foreign minister said in an interview broadcast Sunday, that
Moscow views the two former republics "as absolutely sovereign", absolutely
equal states in the new geopolitical architecture

This may be a pre-Bush visit olive branch by Putin, but whatever the reason. the news is encouraging.