MOSCOW - President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia will provide military aid to Georgia's breakaway provinces.
Medvedev told Russian television stations that Russia is preparing to sign deals with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The deals will detail Moscow's obligations on economic, military and other assistance to the two regions, he says.
Medvedev's statement indicated that Russia has no intention of backing down in response to western criticism of its recognition of the two provinces' independence.
Medvedev says the agreements will lay the basis for "allied" relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
"We will provide all kinds of assistance to these republics," Medvedev said.
"These international agreements will spell out our obligations on providing support and assistance: economic, social, humanitarian and military."
He didn't say when the deals will be signed, but Russian news reports indicated that it could happen in the next few days.
Medvedev's decision Tuesday to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent has drawn sharp criticism from the West which has condemned Russia's August war against its tiny ex-Soviet neighbour.
