The United States, Britain, Germany and France mentioned they were “highly concerned” about Russia’s moves, BBC News reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered last week to forge closer links with Abkhazia and South Ossetia angered Tbilisi.

According to Russia’s Ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, called the request by the Western states “a tall order.” The four states issued a statement saying: “We call on the Russian Federation to revoke or not to implement its decision.”

Georgia’s foreign minister said unilateral steps” amounted to “creeping annexation” of the two regions, while Russia's ambassador to the UN said there was nothing “anti-Georgian” in his country's moves. He also mentioned that Russia did not intend to reverse its plans.

“This is not the kind of thing which we would expect from our international partners,” Churkin said.

The tensions between the two countries appeared after a Georgian spy drone was shot down over the breakaway region of Abkhazia on Sunday. However, Russia denied any involvement in the incident, blaming Abkhaz rebels, who also claimed responsibility.

The four Western countries condemned the downing of the spy, demanding all the parties “to renounce any armed or military action and to respect Georgia's sovereignty.” According to the Russian foreign ministry, the presence of the drone violated UN ceasefire agreements and has suggested the footage is fake.

UN and Russian peacekeepers were deployed in the two areas since the early 1990s, when violence erupted, as they broke free from Georgian control. Russia mentioned that it is seeking defend the rights and legal interests of the citizens who make up the majority of the population in the regions.