The United States on Wednesday criticized a visit by President Vladimir Putin to the Russian-backed Abkhazia region of Georgia, calling it "inappropriate."

In 2008, Russia and Georgia fought a brief war over the region, which Putin visited on Tuesday, the anniversary of the start of the fighting.

"The United States urges Russia to withdraw its forces to pre-war positions per the 2008 ceasefire agreement and reverse its recognition of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia," the State Department said, referring to another separatist region.