Georgian Prime Minister expresses hope for “reset” in relations with Ukraine

Georgian prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday expressed his hope for a “reset” in relations between Georgia and Ukraine, emphasising the deep-rooted friendship and solidarity between the two nations despite recent diplomatic strains.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze stressed that restoring ties with the Ukrainian government remains a key priority.

“I will recall the meeting that took place at the initiative of the president of Ukraine. The roughly 10-minute meeting was conducted in a very friendly manner. We discussed the importance of healing our relations from both sides, though I cannot share further details as it was a closed meeting. The initiative came from their side, and we immediately agreed to it”, Kobakhidze stated.

The prime minister acknowledged that bilateral relations had faced significant hurdles over the past few years, pointing to controversial political decisions and rhetoric coming from Kyiv.

Kobakhidze referenced the recall of Ukraine’s ambassador and earlier statements surrounding a potential “second front” of the war in Georgia.

The PM noted that he personally remains under Ukrainian sanctions, but reiterated that Georgia has handled these provocations with composure.

“A lot of factors created problems in these relations. [...] But what matters most is that we look forward. We hope relations will reset, though this requires concrete steps”, he added.

Kobakhidze underlined that Tbilisi’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people remains unconditional, even if diplomatic reciprocity takes time.

“No matter how things unfold, we are ready to remain even in a regime of one-sided friendship. However, we hope this one-sided friendship will evolve into a mutual one”, Kobakhidze emphasised. “We are calmly waiting for developments. [...] We remain hopeful for the best - that the past attitude will be replaced by a different, positive approach”.