President of Georgia Addresses the Summit for Peace in Ukraine
On June 15 and 16, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili participated in the Summit for Peace in Ukraine in Switzerland. She met with several key leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Polish President Andrzej Duda, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell, and European Council President Charles Michel. The summit brought together delegations from 100 countries, including 57 heads of state and government, to discuss strategies for achieving peace in Ukraine.
In her address, President Zourabichvili emphasized the broader implications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stating that Ukrainians are fighting for European freedom and security, democracy, and the rule of law. She drew parallels between the current conflict in Ukraine and Georgia's past experiences, citing the 2008 war with Russia and the ongoing occupation of Georgian territory.
Highlighting shared concerns about instability in the Black Sea region, she condemned Russia's militarization efforts and plans to establish a naval base in occupied Abkhazia. Zourabichvili called for an end to the war, asserting that peace would prevail if Russia respected international borders and sovereignty.
On June 15, President Zourabichvili had her first official high-level meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. She congratulated Zelenskyy on the start of EU negotiations and reaffirmed Georgia's solidarity with Ukraine. The meeting underscored the shared vision of EU integration for both nations, with Zourabichvili emphasizing the importance of peace for regional development.
President Zourabichvili also raised the issue of Georgian prisoner Mamuka Gatserelia and received assurances from Zelenskyy of Ukraine's commitment to addressing this issue. Both leaders tweeted their mutual support and commitment to European integration.
In a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, Zurabishvili discussed Georgia's upcoming parliamentary elections, calling them a crucial test for the country's democracy. She reiterated the Georgian people's commitment to the European path and urged EU member states to take this into account in their decisions.
President Duda expressed his full support for Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations, stressing that Georgia belongs in Europe. The two Presidents also discussed the situation in Ukraine and the importance of peace for regional stability.
President Zourabichvili met with EU High Representative Josep Borrell to discuss Georgia's EU integration process. She emphasized the importance of the upcoming elections in demonstrating Georgia's commitment to European values and mentioned the "Georgian Charter," a roadmap for resolving political crises and advancing toward EU membership.
Both leaders shared their views on Georgia's European future, with Mr. Borrell reaffirming the EU's support for Georgia's democratic path. Their discussion reinforced a shared commitment to Georgia's integration into the European Union.