Vladimir Putin's decision to cancel Russian visas for Georgian citizens and restore flights is political compensation for Tbilisi's refusal to impose sanctions on Moscow over its attack on Ukraine. This was reported in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Kiev recalled that the course towards normalization of relations between the Russian Federation and Georgia is taking place despite the fact that the former continues to occupy 20% of Georgian territory (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) and violates human rights. At the same time, a significant part of the Georgian society does not support the policy of rapprochement with Russia and has repeatedly expressed its position in protests.

The day before, the Prime Minister of Georgia called the abolition of the visa regime by Russia a positive decision. "We have a million ethnic Georgians in Russia, our compatriots. They have family members, relatives, acquaintances here, and it is very important to facilitate their movement," said Irakli Garibashvili.

The European Union called on Tbilisi as a potential candidate for the EU to follow the sanctions against Russia and ban flights to its territory.