Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili on Monday said in Moldova that ongoing Russia’s war against Ukraine “has revealed” the country’s “true image”, which, she said, was aggression and imperial visions. 

Speaking at a press conference with her Moldovian counterpart Maia Sandu, Zourabichvili said that her country had experienced Russian aggression and occupation over the years, while many in the West believed Russia could be a reliable partner. 

“However, Russia’s war in Ukraine has changed the view [over Russia]”, Zourabichvili said. 

She also stated that Georgia did not see Ukraine and Moldova as its competitors on the path to  Europe, as both were granted European Union membership candidate status in June and Georgia European perspective and conditions for candidacy. 

Calling for unity and solidarity, Zourabichvili stated that meeting the EU’s 12-point conditions was a “challenge” for Georgia and that the country’s “only competitor” in the process was itself.