Russia eyes 'freeze' on NATO ties over Georgia

MOSCOW, Russia (CNN) - Russia warned a NATO ally Wednesday that it was prepared to suspend ties with the Western alliance after its criticism of Moscow's invasion of aspiring member Georgia.

"The Norwegian Embassy in Moscow was today informed by the Russian Ministry of Defense that Russian authorities are considering a freeze on military relations between Russia and NATO member countries," Norway's defense minister, Espen Barth Eide, said in a statement issued by his office. "The Norwegian authorities are now waiting for a formal response from Russian authorities."

The message from Moscow was the latest sign of strained ties over the Russian-Georgian conflict.

Tuesday, NATO ministers declared there would be no "business as usual" with Russia until it fully withdraws its troops from Georgian territory. The announcement by the Norwegian government appears to be a matching step by the Kremlin, which blames Georgia's pro-Western government for the outbreak of hostilities.