Moscow accused Georgia of provoking the conflict and supports independence for Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

While in Russia last week with Medvedev, US President Barack Obama acknowledged that the two countries continue to disagree over the conflict, and vowed support for the former Soviet republic's aspiration to join NATO. Russia has criticized NATO expansion into what the Kremlin considers its historical sphere of influence.

Since the war that began in August, Russia has stationed thousands of additional troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia.