FM: Ukraine opposed Georgia’s path toward EU candidate status

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili has accused Ukraine of creating obstacles to Georgia’s European Union integration, claiming that Kyiv has consistently taken a negative stance toward Tbilisi’s EU accession efforts.

According to Caliber.Az, citing Georgian media, Botchorishvili said that despite Georgia’s political support for Ukraine since the beginning of the war, Kyiv has acted against Tbilisi’s European aspirations.

“It is shameful when someone accuses Georgia of being guilty of something in relation to Ukraine. We did everything to show political support, and Ukraine has always received it,” the foreign minister said.

Botchorishvili also criticised the recent conclusions of the European Commission, saying they “distort real facts” and fail to reflect Georgia’s actual position. She stressed that the Georgian government’s approach aligns with that of EU and NATO member states, emphasising the importance of avoiding direct confrontation with Russia so as not to create new security risks.

“Georgia's EU integration path was accompanied by Ukraine's negative attitude, so that Georgia would not get candidate status. We have seen campaigns in 2022–2023 in which Ukraine opposed our European integration in various forms,” she said.

The minister further argued that Ukraine, not being a member of the European Union, “cannot have any reservations” about Georgia’s EU accession process.

Commenting on statements made by EU Ambassador to Tbilisi Paweł Herczyński, Botchorishvili said that his position fully aligns with those of European leaders Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos.

“We have seen the only statement from Brussels that deliberately distorts facts about the events in Georgia on October 4. It is not worth expecting the EU ambassador to make any other statement,” Botchorishvili concluded.

By Tamilla Hasanova