Defence Minister highlights efforts to “further thaw” relations with Ukrainian authorities

Georgian Minister of Defence Juansher Burchuladze on Thursday said the “narrative” produced by the Ukrainian authorities towards the Georgian Government was “not correct”.

Burchuladze was commenting on the statement of Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, who on Wednesday said “Georgian officials should change their tone, and if they cannot do it for some reasons, then reduce their public statements regarding Ukraine”.

In his response, Burchuladze told local media the Georgian Government had “repeatedly” tried to thaw its relations with the Ukrainian counterparts.

We have repeatedly tried to further thaw our personal relations with our Ukrainian brothers. I think the narrative produced towards us today is not correct”, the Georgian Defence Minister said.

The comments follow claims by representatives of Ukrainian authorities since the start of the Russian invasion of the country, who have alleged the Georgian Government facilitating use of Georgia's territory by Russian individuals and entities for bypassing Western sanctions imposed on Russia due to the invasion. The claims by Ukrainian officials have not been accompanied by evidence of the violations, whereas their Georgian counterparts have rejected the claims.