We are obliged not only to share the pain of the Ukrainian people, but also to show total solidarity with them. Ukraine today is defending not only its own freedom, sovereignty, independence, but also the freedom of us and other European countries, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said in her speech on Georgia’s Day of Independence on Thursday. 

She stated that Georgia has a “historic chance” as the country applied for EU membership, saying that using the opportunity was “decisive.”  

"Neither the civil society united around this goal, nor the souls of our ancestors, nor future generations will forgive us for missing this opportunity,” Zourabichvili suggested. 

"There is a historic opportunity on the path to Europe. This path was not opened without bloodshed and sacrifice,” she stated. 

Zourabichvili stated that Georgia has always been a part of Europe and through defending the Georgian faith, identity and values ​​from a number of conquering empires, “we were also defending Europe.” 

She stated that the “key to our European future today lies in four core values ​​and principles,” saying that the values were unbiased judiciary, tolerance and diversity, protection of human, women’s rights and balanced governance to prevent any attempts of authoritarian rule. 

Zurabishvili suggested that speculations that Georgia could use Russia’s war in Ukraine and reintegrate its occupied regions via the use of force, was Russian disinformation.