Georgia’s and Ukraine’s foreign ministers met again in Chișinău on May 15th, in the latest sign of increased communication between the two countries despite years of strained relations.
Georgian foreign minister Maka Bochorishvili and her Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha held talks on the sidelines of the 135th session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. The meeting followed a recent exchange between Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky on May 4th in Yerevan.
Sybiha described the meeting as a “direct follow-up” to the “recent dialogue”, adding: “We discussed a wide bilateral agenda, our cooperation within international organisations … and the latest political dynamics in the shared values-base space from Europe to the South Caucasus.” He added: “We continue to develop a transparent, pragmatic, and constructive Ukrainian-Georgian dialogue.”
Georgia’s foreign ministry said “the discussion focused on Georgia’s consistent political and humanitarian support for Ukraine” and described the meeting as “a further step following the recent communications” between the two governments. At the same time, it pointed to “existing challenges in Georgia–Ukraine relations” and referred to “steps taken by the Ukrainian authorities … that continue to hinder the normalisation of bilateral relations.”
The tensions date back to March 2022, when days after the beginning of the Russian invasion, Kyiv recalled its ambassador to Tbilisi. The reasons cited by the Ukrainian party were the Georgian government’s “immoral position” on sanctions against Russia, and Tbilisi’s decision to block a charter flight intended to transport Georgian volunteer fighters to Ukraine.
The renewed talks come amid broader efforts to normalise ties, though prospects remain uncertain. Georgian officials have suggested that the recent “activation” in dialogue is driven by Kyiv, potentially linked to Georgia’s role in regional connectivity.
