The G7 group of industrialized nations Wednesday issued a statement condemning Russia for recognizing as independent countries two breakaway provinces in Georgia.
In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom said Russia's move violated the territorial integrity of Georgia and was "contrary" to U.N. Security Council resolutions governing relations between Georgia and the provinces of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"Russia's decision has called into question its commitment to peace and security in the Caucasus," according to the statement. "We deplore Russia's excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia. We call unanimously on the Russian government to implement in full the six point peace plan brokered by President Sarkozy on behalf of the EU, in particular to withdraw its forces behind the pre-conflict lines."
Clashes between Georgian forces and separatists in South Ossetia provided a spark to reignite the long-simmering conflict earlier this month. When Georgian troops moved more aggressively against the separatists, Russian troops invaded, occupying South Ossetia, Abkhazia and a buffer zone inside Georgian-controlled territory around South Ossetia.
Georgia and Russia have since traded accusations of ethnic cleansing, and U.S. warplanes and ships have been dispatched to the region bearing humanitarian supplies. Moscow has accused the U.S. of using the aid shipments as a cover to rearm a Georgian military that was swiftly overwhelmed by the greater forces of its much larger neighbor.
Georgia, which has sued Russia in the International Court of Justice accusing Moscow of backing a campaign of ethnic cleansing both during the recent invasion and during the conflicts in Abkhazia in the early 1990s, Wednesday released what it said were satellite photos documenting Russian atrocities.
U.S. State Department Spokesman Robert Wood declined to comment on the pictures at a briefing earlier Wednesday, but said the U.S. was calling on Russia to "to allow a credible investigation to take place of reports that atrocities have been committed by both sides."
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is reportedly traveling to a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to seek recognition of the provinces' independence from Georgia by China, India and other central Asian countries.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.