Miliband slams Russia in Kiev

Britain's foreign secretary, David Miliband, has delivered the strongest criticism of Russia by a European minister for years in a speech in Kiev, capital of Ukraine. Mr Miliband, tipped as a potential future Prime Minister, decried Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's decision to recognised the break-away regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as a "unilateral attempt to redraw the map" which "marks a moment of real significance".

Mr Miliband said: "It is not just the end of the post cold war period of growing geopolitical calm in and around Europe. It is also the moment when countries are required to set out where they stand on the significant issues of nationhood and international law."

Responding to Mr Medvedev's statement that Russia was not afraid to start a new cold war, Mr Miliband said: "We don't want a new cold war. He has a big responsibility not to start one."

Mr Miliband arrived in Ukraine after its president, Viktor Yushchenko, expressed concerns that Russia might try to orchestrate a conflict over the presence of its Black Sea fleet in port facilities leased from Ukraine. Mr Yushchenko has suggested the rent should be increased for the facilities.