Georgia joined a joint statement signed by more than 50 countries reaffirming support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and calling on Russia to accept a ceasefire, while Georgian Dream Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili reaffirmed support for Ukraine during her address at the sixth summit of the International Crimea Platform held in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Addressing the summit titled “A Test of Unity, a Call for Action,” Botchorishvili said that “the issue of Crimea, Ukraine, is not simply one item of the international agenda,” adding that Georgia “knows all too well what it means when state sovereignty and territorial integrity are violated.”
She said that “for decades, Georgia itself has experienced the consequences of the erosion of the international order and the disregard of international norms and principles,” noting that “Russia’s occupation of two regions of Georgia continues to this day and remains one of the most serious security challenges for our country.”
Botchorishvili said Georgia “attaches particular importance to solidarity, respect for international law, and steadfast commitment to the principles upon which peaceful and secure international order must be built.”
She described the International Crimea Platform as “an important forum for sustaining international attention to Ukraine and, more importantly, for translating our shared commitments into concrete actions.”
Botchorishvili noted that Georgia remains committed to “peace and conflict resolution, and we appreciate this steadfast international support for these efforts,” adding that she welcomes “all genuine efforts aimed at ending the war and achieving a lasting peace, a peace grounded on the principles of the UN Charter and international law.”
“Georgia stands firmly with Ukrainian people and reaffirms its unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders,” Botchorishvili noted.
Joint Statement
Georgia was also among the countries that joined a joint statement in support of Ukraine, delivered by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs on September 23.
“We stand in solidarity with Ukraine as it continues to face Russia’s war of aggression,” Kallas said, recalling that the UN Charter upholds “the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of all states, and the inherent right of self-defense.”
“After 4 years, 6 months, and 30 days of full-scale war, the human cost continues to grow,” she said, expressing concern over Russia’s “escalation against civilians and civilian infrastructure across Ukraine, causing record high numbers of casualties in the last months, as recorded by the UN.”
“We call for full respect for the international humanitarian law, accountability, and the protection of civilians. We are particularly concerned by the attacks in the Black Sea,” Kallas said. “Russia is trying to choke off Ukrainian grain exports, thus jeopardizing global food security.”
“We therefore support efforts toward an arrangement in the Black Sea to safeguard freedom of navigation and call for the protection of commercial shipping and critical infrastructure,” Kallas concluded.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha spoke after Kallas, stressing “since March 2025, Ukraine has agreed to a full, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire. We call on Russia to finally do the same, as a necessary step toward meaningful diplomacy and negotiations leading to peace.”
Sybiha said that “we urgently call on Russia to ensure the immediate, safe, and unconditional return to Ukraine of all detainees, forcibly transferred or deported Ukrainian civilians, including children, as well as the complete return of all prisoners of war and the return of all internees, as significant confidence-building measures.”
“Ukraine wants peace,” Sybiha emphasized. “We want peace.”
“Russia must stop its aggression, accept a ceasefire, and engage meaningfully in negotiations toward a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in accordance with international law,” he concluded.
The statement was endorsed by Ukraine, the European Union, Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Morocco, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of Moldova, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
The United States reportedly did not join the statement.
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