As Russia escalated its military action against the former Soviet state of Georgia, presidential hopeful John McCain stepped up his criticism of Russia and urged more U.S. action.

“In the face of Russian aggression, the very existence of independent Georgia and the survival of its democratically-elected government are at stake,” the Arizona Republican senator said Monday morning in Erie, Pa. “Russian actions, in clear violation of international law, have no place in 21st century Europe.”

McCain said the United States should bring a resolution before the United Nations Security Council to condemn Russia and call for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of Russian troops from Georgian territory. Russia holds a veto in the Security Council, but McCain said the United States should press on regardless.

Over the weekend, Democrats had issued more tempered statements that echoed the stance of their presidential contender, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. Obama, who is vacationing in Hawaii this week, called on both sides to exercise restraint in a statement Aug. 8.

McCain also called on NATO’s North Atlantic Council to meet to discuss deploying an international peacekeeping force to South Ossetia, Georgia’s breakaway province.

He also said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice should visit Europe to solidify a U.S.-European diplomatic front against Russia.

The Russian offensive continued Monday, with forces capturing the city of Gori, about 60 miles west of Tblisi, the Georgian capital.

Democratic leaders — including Obama — have pushed for diplomacy.

“The future of Georgia should be decided by the Georgian people,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Aug. 9 in a brief statement. “The sooner Russian military action ceases, Russian forces are withdrawn, and Georgia’s borders are respected, the sooner a settlement of Georgia’s internal disputes can be achieved and regional security enhanced.”