According to Georgia's Foreign Ministry, Georgian troops are now observing a cease-fire in South Ossetia. Officials also indicate that they are ready to negotiate with Russia.

The former Soviet state said that troops have ceased fire under the orders of Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili. Georgian troops had retreated from South Ossetia earlier on Sunday, having been overwhelmed by Russian firepower which threatened to set off a wider war.

On the other side, Russia deployed a naval squadron off the coast of another separatist region of Georgia known as Abkhazia. Russian jets also bombed the outskirts of Georgia's capital city, Tblisi.