[Goose]

Any opportunity arising from the conflict in Ukraine for Moldova or Georgia to obtain a durable settlement with Russia over disputed lands?  Or is creating instability the only value for Russia in propping up these autonomous regions?  Same question for Chechnya and Dagestan?

IMO Moldova and Georgia are just hoping Ukraine wins. Then, maybe, they can get a "resolution" in their breakaway provinces by convincing the Russians to leave. A durable settlement depends somewhat on what these states can negotiate within their own country. As long as Russia backs the separatists no solution is possible. If Russia is forced by events in Ukraine to withdraw, a solution is possible but not certain. There are real problems there that transcend Russian involvement.

Chechnya and Dagestan are different cases IMO. Russia isn't going to let go of Chechnya unless the Russian Federation completely collapses. A loss in Ukraine might do that, but I wouldn't count on it. Dagestan is a little further away and Russia needs to go through Chechnya to get there. It is so ethnically diverse it is hard to imagine it can actually put up much of a fight however. If Chechnya becomes independent, Dagestan will too, at least for a while. They only would then have to worry about Georgia, Iran, and Chechnya :-).

[Goose]

Any opportunity arising from the conflict in Ukraine for Moldova or Georgia to obtain a durable settlement with Russia over disputed lands?  Or is creating instability the only value for Russia in propping up these autonomous regions?  Same question for Chechnya and Dagestan?

IMO Moldova and Georgia are just hoping Ukraine wins. Then, maybe, they can get a "resolution" in their breakaway provinces by convincing the Russians to leave. A durable settlement depends somewhat on what these states can negotiate within their own country. As long as Russia backs the separatists no solution is possible. If Russia is forced by events in Ukraine to withdraw, a solution is possible but not certain. There are real problems there that transcend Russian involvement.

Chechnya and Dagestan are different cases IMO. Russia isn't going to let go of Chechnya unless the Russian Federation completely collapses. A loss in Ukraine might do that, but I wouldn't count on it. Dagestan is a little further away and Russia needs to go through Chechnya to get there. It is so ethnically diverse it is hard to imagine it can actually put up much of a fight however. If Chechnya becomes independent, Dagestan will too, at least for a while. They only would then have to worry about Georgia, Iran, and Chechnya :-).