United States President George Bush has issued a strongly worded statement urging Russia not to recognise Georgia's two breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent states.
Mr Bush criticised the vote in the Russian parliament calling on President Dmitry Medvedev to support independence for the separatist enclaves.
On Monday, the upper house of the Russian parliament voted to recognise the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.
The vote is not be binding on the Kremlin, but analysts say it could provide Mr Medvedev with bargaining material in negotiations with the West.
Both regions are internationally accepted as part of Georgia and the move could fuel the crisis between Russia and the West.
On Monday, a US warship carrying humanitarian aid docked at the Georgian port of Batumi.
The USS McFaul was carrying supplies, including blankets, hygiene kits and baby food.
Russian forces are still in control of the military port of Poti, 50 kilometres north of Batumi, although most Russian combat troops have been withdrawn from the rest of Georgia.
The aid delivery is seen as clear American support for the Georgian government.
