Restoring peace in Ukraine Georgia’s main priority, PM Kobakhidze

Georgia’s Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, on Friday claimed peace in Ukraine remained a key priority for Georgia, describing Ukraine and the Ukrainian people as friends of the country.

Kobakhidze further stressed Georgia would not place any conditions on Ukraine despite tensions between the two governments in recent years.

“Ukraine is a friendly country, and the Ukrainian people are a friendly people. For us, it is very important that peace be restored in Ukraine,” the PM said.

Kobakhidze also referred to the humanitarian and economic impact of the war, saying Ukraine had suffered widespread destruction of infrastructure, severe economic damage and large-scale displacement of its population.

“We cannot place any preconditions on Ukraine. It is a country at war,” he added.

The prime minister also said the Georgian government intended to maintain what he described as a “one-sided friendship” approach towards Ukraine, despite what he called “unfriendly steps” previously taken by the Ukrainian authorities towards Georgia.