RUSSIAN Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has warned if NATO admits Georgia to its ranks could trigger "a terrible conflict".

Georgia's NATO ambitions have been a source of anger for Russia which fought a war with its southern neighbour in 2008.

NATO leaders promised Georgia it would one day join the alliance, which Russia regards as a hostile military bloc.

"It (Georgia's entry to NATO) could provoke a terrible conflict. It's not clear why this is needed," Medvedev told Russia's Kommersant FM radio station.

Medvedev's comments comes weeks after President Vladimir Putin warned NATO against cultivating closer ties with Ukraine and Georgia.

He said such a policy was irresponsible and would have unspecified consequences for the alliance.

Russian forces entered two breakaway Georgian regions in 2008, which remain garrisoned by Russian troops to this day.

Moscow says its presence is in keeping with local people's wishes, but which the West and the Georgian government calls an illegal occupation.

NATO leaders discussed ties with Georgia at their summit in Brussels in July.

Prominent Georgian politicians are keen for their country to join the Western military alliance, but have seen chances of joining hampered by Russian territorial incursions.

Under NATO rules, countries with territorial conflicts cannot join NATO.