In an interview with Responsible Statecraft, Georgian President Mikheil Kavelashvili claimed that Western partners pressured Georgia to join the war against Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine—an action he said would have been catastrophic for the country.

While Georgia condemned Russia’s invasion, sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and imposed limited sanctions, it resisted full alignment with EU measures and barred Georgian volunteers from joining the fight—moves that drew criticism and accusations of being "pro-Russian."

Kavelashvili strongly rejected these claims, accusing the West of trying to provoke a second front in Georgia, similar to the 2008 war. “The West demanded we go to war with Russia against our national interests,” he said, asserting that the current government prioritizes Georgia’s sovereignty and security.

He also accused organizations like USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy, and the European Parliament of supporting the Georgian opposition, suggesting coordinated pressure from what he called the U.S. “deep state.”

“Despite all this, we continue to defend Georgia’s national interest and economic growth,” Kavelashvili concluded.