Tbilisi: Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili has made bold claims that Ukraine is actively opposing Georgia's efforts to join the European Union. Speaking to local media, Bochorishvili accused Kyiv of attempting to block Tbilisi's path to EU membership, marking a significant strain in relations between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Bochorishvili expressed her disappointment, stating that it is 'shameful' for anyone to blame Georgia concerning Ukraine. She emphasized that Georgia has consistently supported Ukraine politically since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. Bochorishvili asserted that Ukraine has opposed Georgia's European integration through various campaigns, particularly during the years 2022-2023, which aimed to prevent Georgia from securing EU candidate status.

The foreign minister also criticized the conclusions of a European Commission report, which she claims distort the real facts about Georgia's level of support for Ukraine in international forums. She highlighted that Georgia's policy towards Russia aligns with that of EU and NATO members, focusing on avoiding confrontation and ensuring national security. Bochorishvili insisted that the government's primary responsibility is to safeguard the country from threats, a stance she believes should be commended rather than condemned.

Further discontent was expressed towards EU Ambassador to Georgia Pavel Gerchinsky. Bochorishvili criticized his remarks, suggesting they were in line with the views of EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner for Enlargement Martha Kos. She argued that the Ambassador's statement should not contradict the positions of Brussels leaders and that the recent statement from Brussels misrepresented the events that occurred in Georgia on October 4, creating a misleading narrative.

After months of tension over political reforms and alleged democratic backsliding, Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, a milestone that came amid growing friction between Tbilisi and Brussels over several issues.