section_path: History/Putin and George W. Bush (2001–2009)/Russian-Georgian clash (August 2008)
section_name: Russian-Georgian clash (August 2008)
paragraph_text: Russian-Georgian clash (August 2008)
  
  In August 2008, United States-Russia bilateral relations became further strained, when Russia and Georgia fought a five-day war over the Russian-backed self-proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. President Bush said to Russia, "Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century."