Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that recent statements from European leaders — claiming any peace deal must be approved by both Ukraine and Europe — raise concerns about Europe’s direct interests in the war.

He argued that some European political groups appear motivated to prolong the conflict, citing comments from Baltic politicians who said the war keeps their own countries safer and others who described Ukraine as Europe’s “first defensive line.”

Papuashvili also questioned why, if Europe views the conflict as “its war,” EU states have paid more money to Russia than they have provided to Ukraine. He pointed to figures claiming Europe has given Ukraine €181 billion while transferring €310 billion to Russia, largely for energy.

According to him, these dynamics reveal how international politics operates: nations prioritize their own interests. He claimed that in 2022 certain foreign actors pressured Georgia to escalate tensions with Russia, but the Georgian government refused to act against its own national interests.

Papuashvili concluded that the situation underscores the importance of Georgia maintaining independent decision-making and avoiding external political pressures.