GD’s Machavariani claims EU, UK, former US administration preferred Ukraine war not ended

Levan Machavariani, Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, on Monday said that the European Union, the United Kingdom, and the former United States administration were “interested in ensuring the war did not end,” commenting on statements made by EU officials in 2022 and 2026 regarding negotiations with Russia.

Machavariani referenced statements by 2022 EU official Kaia Kalas, as well as 2026 European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinio, noting that while Kalas spoke about isolating Russian President Vladimir Putin, Pinio focused on engaging in negotiations. He added that similar remarks were recently made by the French President Emmanuel Macron.

“Unfortunately, before Donald Trump took office, I do not recall any serious efforts to resolve this tragedy through diplomacy. The EU, the UK, and the former US administration clearly opposed giving Russia any leverage,” Machavariani said.

He also cited former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who reportedly attempted to propose an alternative Minsk-format initiative in 2023 but faced opposition from EU countries, as well as the collapse of the Istanbul agreement between Ukraine and Russia just two months after the war began, which, according to Machavariani, could have ended the tragedy early.

“The evidence suggests that the EU, the UK, and the former US administration were invested in prolonging this war, while misleading the world - and especially the Ukrainian people - about Ukraine defeating Russia with Western support, joining NATO quickly, or receiving frozen Russian assets,” he said.

Machavariani criticised opposition actors who he said sought unrest in Georgia, arguing that Georgian authorities acted with pragmatism and national interest over “wishful thinking” during the past four years. He urged critics to adopt more critical and realistic approaches to geopolitical issues.