[…] Immediately following Russia’s August 8 invasion of its southern neighbor, the G8 ministers came together to appeal for peace in a series of conference calls with their Russian counterpart, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, while representatives from the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) shuttled between Moscow and Tbilisi, Georgia, to broker a six-point cease-fire agreement.

[…] The development of a limited ballistic missile defense system in Europe creates an important capability for NATO allies that poses no threat to Russia, says a senior U.S. diplomat. "It can defend against all long-range missile launches" from a rogue state, but for example, the system would not be able to protect against shorter-range missile launches from the same state, John Rood, acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security, said at an August 25 briefing.

[…] “I condemn Russia’s aggressive actions and reiterate my call for an immediate ceasefire,” Obama said August 9, two days after fighting broke out.
“Diplomats at the highest levels from the United States, the European Union and the United Nations must become directly involved in mediating this military conflict and beginning a process to resolve the political disputes over the territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.”

[…] "I'm pleased to announce that negotiations are complete and that we have initialed an agreement" to place an American missile defense base in Poland, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said August 14. The initial agreement was signed by chief U.S. negotiator John Rood, acting under secretary of state for arms control and international security.

A new agreement between the United States and the Czech Republic to host a key component of a Europe-based missile defense system marks a step toward safeguarding Europe and the international community, says U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

[…] The United States and the European Union have common goals for Cuba, and they start with the release of political prisoners, a healthy respect for political opposition leaders and free and fair elections for the Cuban people. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack says the United States and the European Union want Cuba to embrace freedom, democracy and universal human rights -- unconditionally.