Putin made “big tactic, strategic miscalculation” by attacking Ukraine – French, German ambassadors to Georgia

Sheraz Gasri, the ambassador of France, and Peter Fischer, the ambassador of Germany to Georgia  said in a joint statement on Friday that Russia had made a “big  “big tactic and  strategic miscalculation” by attacking Ukraine  on this day in 2022. 

“President Putin made a big tactic and strategic miscalculation. He thought that Ukraine would fall in a few days. One year later, we see the result: Ukraine is resisting heroically and has the support of all free, democratic and pluralistic societies who stand up for their values and principles, “ said the statement . 

The diplomats stressed on the other side, Russia had taken “ruthless escalatory steps”, including an “irresponsible nuclear rhetoric which is putting global peace and security at risk”. 

“Russia has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Russia is deliberately causing food and energy shortages, interrupting supply chains and price hikes, deepening its isolation from the international community. We stand in solidarity with our partners across the world who bear the rising price of President Putin’s unilateral choice to wage war in Europe”, said the diplomats. 

The ambassadors stressed “Russia cannot and will not win. The European Union is more united than ever in its unanimous support for Ukraine and will impose further economic costs on Russia, and on individuals and entities – inside and outside of Russia”. 

They also said following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EU had opened its arms to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia. 

“Joining the EU is a long voyage. It involves adopting not only the goals and values of the EU, but also the full body of EU legislation, standards and norms”, the ambassadors said, adding in December the bloc would decide on Georgia’s membership candidate status and called on the country to “focus on” the meeting of the EU candidacy conditions.

The ambassadors highlighted Tbilisi’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine and accepting its refugees amid the conflict, and said “Georgia knows more than anyone the importance of respect for a country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.