Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv is ready to restore full relations with Tbilisi. He made this announcement after speaking with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, who had previously held talks with Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili.
"Our goal is normal relations between our countries and joint work based on mutual respect. We are ready to take steps in this direction," Zelenskyy stated.
Contacts between Kyiv and Tbilisi noticeably intensified after Zelenskyy's meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze at the European Political Community summit in Yerevan on May 4. Shortly thereafter, the two countries' foreign ministers held telephone conversations, and on May 15, they met in person in Moldova on the sidelines of a session of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.
According to Sybiha, the parties discussed both bilateral relations and the political situation in the region.
"We continue to build an open, practical, and productive dialogue between Ukraine and Georgia," the Ukrainian Foreign Minister noted.
Relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi have noticeably deteriorated since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities criticized the Georgian leadership for refusing to join sanctions against Moscow and for its cautious approach to the Kremlin.
Tbilisi, in turn, accused Kyiv of attempting to draw Georgia into a direct confrontation with Russia. Georgian authorities have repeatedly emphasized their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and condemn the Russian invasion, but they do not intend to sacrifice the country's economic stability for the sake of sanctions.
One of the most sensitive issues in relations between the two countries remains the fate of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. After returning to Georgia, he was arrested and is currently serving time in a Georgian prison. Prior to his arrest, Saakashvili served as head of the Executive Committee of the National Reform Council under the President of Ukraine.
During his imprisonment, Saakashvili repeatedly appealed to Volodymyr Zelenskyy to secure his release. In 2025, he also proposed considering including him on the list of civilian prisoners as part of Russian-Ukrainian prisoner exchanges. Kyiv publicly called for the former Georgian president to be transferred abroad for medical treatment, but Tbilisi dismissed such statements as interference in the country's internal affairs.
Despite the gradual restoration of contact, the two sides have so far preferred not to discuss Saakashvili's situation—at least publicly.
