Republican John McCain has condemned Russia's policies, saying that while some of China's actions are regrettable, he doesn't think the country is regressing the way Russia is.

In an interview in the Washington Post, McCain says he sees a steady repression of rights in Russia and the disappearance of democracy.

He stressed that the U.S. must negotiate with Russia, but, as he put it, won't sit by and watch a country murder people in the UK – a reference to the death of former Russian security officer Aleksandr Litvinenko killed in London two years ago.

Last week, McCain called for Russia's exclusion from the G8 to improve the country's behavior internationally.

McCain's foreign policy remarks are drawing criticism in the U.S., especially from the democratic candidate Barack Obama, who believes excluding Russia from the G8 would be a mistake, as it could be vital in the fight against nuclear proliferation.