In a move likely to further strain already frayed relations between Kyiv and Tbilisi, Shalva Papuashvili, speaker of the Georgian parliament, launched a stinging verbal attack on President Volodymyr Zelensky and European Union leadership on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists in Georgia on Feb. 25, Papuashvili clarified that his country’s support for a recent UN resolution, which garnered 107 votes in favor, was an act of solidarity with the Ukrainian people, not a gesture of support for the country’s current administration.
“We support the Ukrainian people. Neither Zelensky nor Brussels deserves our support; they are ungrateful people,” Papuashvili said.
A war of words and diplomatic friction
The speaker’s comments highlight a deep-seated resentment within the ruling Georgian Dream party toward the Zelensky administration. Papuashvili explicitly referenced past diplomatic clashes, including Kyiv’s decision to recall its ambassador from Tbilisi and the imposition of sanctions on certain Georgian officials.
“Generally, [Zelensky] is an ungrateful person, I am not the first to say this,” Papuashvili said, echoing a sentiment he claimed was shared by international partners. “Even the US President told him to show a little gratitude. Zelensky shows no gratitude toward America or Georgia.”
Papuashvili took further aim at Kyiv’s past criticisms of Georgian restrictions on citizens volunteering to fight for Ukraine.
“I remind you once again of Zelensky’s shameful statements. He recalled the ambassador from Georgia, asking why we didn’t send Georgians to fight and die there. They should be saying thank you... as for Zelensky himself, the Ukrainian people will deliver the final verdict.”
The “neutrality” tightrope
The speaker’s escalating rhetoric comes amid Georgia’s complex balancing act. While Tbilisi has consistently voted in favor of pro-Ukraine resolutions at the UN and provided significant humanitarian aid, the Georgian government has steadfastly refused to join bilateral economic sanctions against Russia.
The ruling party cites national security concerns and the risk of economic collapse as the primary reasons for its stance. However, this policy has led to an ongoing “war of words,” with Kyiv accusing Tbilisi of drifting back into Moscow’s orbit and Georgia accusing Ukraine of interference in its internal affairs – most notably regarding the imprisonment of former Georgian President (and former Ukrainian official) Mikheil Saakashvili.
Despite the harsh rhetoric directed at the leadership, Papuashvili maintained that Georgia’s moral obligation remains with the citizens of Ukraine. “We are doing all of this for the Ukrainian people,” he concluded.