In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom said Russia's recognition of the independence of the two states violates Georgia's territorial integrity and sovereignty. They said the action also is contrary to U.N. Security Council resolutions supported by Russia.

"Russia's decision has called into question its commitment to peace and security in the Caucasus," the statement continued. "We deplore Russia's excessive use of military force in Georgia and its continued occupation of parts of Georgia."

The G8 foreign ministers unanimously called on Moscow to fully implement the six-point peace plan brokered by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on behalf of the European Union.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney lambasted Russia's incursion into Georgia when he spoke to members of the American Legion veterans group in Phoenix, American Forces Press Service reported.

"That young democracy has been subjected to an unjustified assault and the international community has joined in condemning Russia's invasion of a sovereign, democratic neighbor and its recognition of Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia," Cheney said.

The vice president, at U.S. President George Bush's behest, will travel to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Italy next week.