Washington  - US President George W Bush sought to reassure Georgia of Washington's steady support Saturday, while demanding that "Russia must act to end this crisis."

In his weekly radio address, Bush said it was vital that the US and other free nations would "ensure that an embattled democracy seeking to stand with us remains sovereign, secure, and undivided."

The White House leader also said that in the days ahead the US would continue its humanitarian assistance with the use of military planes and naval vessels.

Bush said the world had witnessed with "alarm as Russia invaded a sovereign neighboring state and threatened a democratic government elected by its people. This act is completely unacceptable to the free nations of the world."

Georgia's rise as a young democracy had become "part of an inspiring and hopeful new chapter in Europe's history," Bush said.

As to Russia, the US president said Moscow's actions in Georgia raised "serious questions" about its role in 21st-century Europe.

Bush said Russia had made efforts to become integrated with the diplomatic, political, economic and security structures of the West and that "the United States has supported those efforts."

But now Russia had "put its aspirations at risk by taking actions in Georgia that are inconsistent with the principles of those institutions.

"To begin to repair the damage to its relations with the United States, Europe, and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must act to end this crisis," Bush said. (dpa)