Georgian Parliament Committee Chair: Georgia-Ukraine relations depend on actions, not statements

Levan Makhashvili, the chair of the Georgian Parliament’s European integration committee, on Monday responded to recent remarks by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, emphasising that the future of Georgia-Ukraine relations will depend on specific actions rather than statements alone.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Makhashvili noted that while Zelenskyy’s comments signal a positive initial step, it remains to be seen how seriously Ukraine intends to pursue continued cooperation with Georgia.

“We have heard many statements before, but in practice, the fact remains that Georgia’s Prime Minister and other high-ranking officials are still under sanctions imposed by Zelenskyy’s decision. To this day, Ukraine has not appointed an ambassador to Georgia, and likewise, Georgia does not have an ambassador operating in Ukraine due to their decision. Several major Georgian companies also remain sanctioned by Ukraine”, Makhashvili said.

According to him, while the Ukrainian president’s remarks and initiative are welcome, they are not sufficient on their own. “It is a good statement, a good initiative, and a good first step in this direction, but it does not yet signal a full change. We need to assess in practice whether Ukraine’s state-level approach toward Georgia will be reconsidered”, he added.

Makhashvili reaffirmed Georgia’s readiness to restore relations if tangible steps are taken. “On behalf of our team, I would like to reiterate that if we see real actions aimed at correcting damaged relations and unfair treatment, we are ready to normalize ties. We have never refused dialogue and remain open to sitting at the table again - provided there is a serious approach from Ukraine in practice”.