UK Foreign Secretary to arrive in Kyiv to create coalition against Russia

"Today`s announcement by President (Dmitry) Medvedev that Russia will recognise South Ossetia and Abkhazia is unjustifiable and unacceptable," Miliband said in a statement.

"I am holding talks today with international partners and will be visiting Ukraine tomorrow to ensure the widest possible coalition against Russian aggression in Georgia," he added.

Miliband`s voice was the latest in a rising chorus of international disapproval for the unilateral Russian action.

"Today`s announcement further inflames an already tense situation in the region. We fully support Georgia`s independence and territorial integrity, which cannot be changed by decree from Moscow," Miliband added.

The West had strongly urged Moscow not to recognise the two regions and to respect Georgia`s territorial integrity.

Georgia and Russia fought a brief war over the breakaway region of South Ossetia earlier this month after Georgia sent in troops to try to retake the province by force. Russia responded with a massive counter-attack by land, sea and air.