Brussels - The European Union's executive body stressed on Tuesday its support for Georgia's territorial integrity, just minutes before Russia recognized the independence of two breakaway Georgian regions in defiance of Western criticism.

"All previous UN security council resolutions supported the territorial integrity and full sovereignty of Georgia. This is and remains our position," a spokesman for the European Commission told journalists in Brussels.

On Monday EU heads of state and government are set to hold a crisis meeting to discuss how they should react to the recent war between Georgia and Russia over the breakaway territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.

"Ahead of that summit, we should wait and see what comes out of it," the commission spokesman said.

Minutes after the spokesman had finished, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced that Russia was recognizing the two regions' independence.

European leaders had already fiercely criticized a call by the Russian parliament on Monday to recognize the breakaway regions. Medvedev's decision sets the stage for a major diplomatic row. (dpa)