The United States has seen initial signs that Russia is withdrawing some of its forces from Georgia but Moscow is not moving fast enough, the White House said today.
"It is not significant and it needs to increase," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe told reporters aboard Air Force One as US president George W. Bush flew to Florida to give a speech on terrorism.
"Both the size and pace of the withdrawal needs to increase and needs to increase sooner rather than later," he said. "I don't think they need any more additional time."
Mr Johndroe said Moscow, which has been a key US partner in trying to convince Iran and North Korea to give up their nuclear programs, was risking its standing in the international community with its actions in Georgia.
"We have wanted Russia to be a part of the greater international community," he said.
"Russia is making a decision and we certainly hope that it's not a long-term strategic decision, but Russia's making a decision that's only isolating itself."
Last night, Russia blocked UN Security Council action on the Georgian crisis, refusing to support a Western-backed draft resolution calling for an immediate Russian military withdrawal.
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council the resolution should include and endorse a six-point peace plan promoted by French president Nicolas Sarkozy and signed by both Georgia and Russia.
Since the French-drafted text did not do this, "the Russian Federation will not be able to support (it)," he said.
The council meeting ended with no attempt to put the resolution to a vote and French and other Western officials declined to say whether they would do so, a move that would almost certainly provoke a Russian veto.
The draft, circulated to council members shortly before the meeting, also calls for the return of Georgian forces to their usual bases and demands full and immediate compliance with the cease-fire both countries have subscribed to.
Reuters