Russia gives warning over Black Sea warships

RUSSIA last night warned NATO over its naval presence in the Black Sea as Western powers lined up to condemn Moscow’s decision to recognise the independence of two Georgian rebel regions.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also held talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao, a key ally, as Britain’s foreign minister travelled to Ukraine and warned the country not to provoke Russia.

Russia’s military said it would carefully monitor a “build-up” of NATO naval ships in the Black Sea, amid anger at Moscow’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions that broke from Georgian control in the early 1990s.