Brussels - The European Union on Thursday said it regretted Russia's decision to veto the extension of a United Nations observation mission in Georgia, calling it a blow to stability.

The 27-member bloc "regrets Russia9s decision," made on Tuesday, not to renew the observation mission's mandate in the fragmented country, EU countries said in a joint statement.

The move "further complicates the already volatile situation in the region and is clearly not in the interest of the civilians in this conflict zone," the statement said.

Russia's refusal to allow UN observers to remain in the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia means that the EU is now the only international body to have an observation mission on the ground.

Russia invaded Georgia in August last year to support the independence of Abkhazia and its fellow breakaway region, South Ossetia. Moscow subsequently recognized the formal independence of both regions.

The EU condemned the invasion and insisted that the two regions are legally part of Georgia.

Peace talks between Georgia, Russia and the breakaway zones are currently going on in Geneva. (dpa)