For the US to be against recognition and also against the use of force at the same time is not a contradiction.

Telling another country that it may not use force to keep together is essentially telling separatist movements that they may use force without risk of being punished by the government. It is in effect quite a strong endorsement of separatism.

But it then remains a good question why US, Germany, and the rest of the west were split on recognition.

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