Adjara Supreme Council chair slams EU for ‘using’ Ukraine to pressure Georgia

The chairman of the Supreme Council of Georgia’s Autonomous Republic of Adjara, Tsotne Ananidze, has criticised EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas over her description of Ukraine as Europe’s first line of defence against Russian aggression.

In a post on social media on Tuesday, Ananidze said those who dismissed warnings about the risk of Georgia being drawn into a second front should take note of Kallas’s remarks.

“Those who laugh at the threat of a second front should listen to another admission - the fact is that, for the Euro-bureaucracy, Ukraine and Georgia are an attempt to catch a snake with someone else’s hands,” Ananidze wrote.

Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, made the remarks following a meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday.

Speaking about security cooperation with countries seeking EU membership, she said Ukraine was Europe’s first line of defence against Russian aggression. She also referred to Moldova and Western Balkan partners as contributors to EU missions and operations.

Her comments came as EU foreign ministers discussed closer security and defence cooperation with candidate countries, as well as continued support for Ukraine amid Russia’s war.