In Georgia, the Ministry of Defense disputed claims by Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires that Kyiv donated Buk air defense systems to Tbilisi for free in 2008. The ministry stated that Ukraine did not provide the Buks as a gift. Instead, Georgia bought the systems in 2007 through a substantial multi-million dollar purchase arranged by officials. The ministry indicated that the matter involved complex considerations and did not disclose further specifics publicly.
Georgia also noted that it paid tens of millions of dollars in 2017 to acquire Javelin anti-tank systems from the United States. The Ministry emphasized that Georgia continues to offer humanitarian and political support to Ukraine, while reiterating a clear stance on weapons transfers and military aid. The government has consistently maintained that military imports are governed by its own defense policy and national security priorities.
Earlier, Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires in Georgia, Andrey Kasyanov, wrote in a Ukrainian outlet that Kyiv aimed to recover the Buks transferred from Tbilisi in 2008. He described Ukraine’s ongoing requests for arms, equipment, and ammunition from international partners, including Georgia, as essential since the early days of Russia’s broader invasion of Ukraine. He also mentioned that Washington had approved the transfer of Javelin systems to Georgia as part of that broader collaboration.
Kasyanov asserted that the Georgian government refused to provide military assistance, while Ukraine expressed opposition to using this issue in internal political disputes. He cautioned about ongoing domestic political debates in Georgia and their potential impact on perceptions of the alliance. The diplomat stressed that Kyiv seeks alignment with its partners rather than dragging any country into conflict.
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili commented on social media that in 2007 the country purchased Buki with help from Ukraine’s then leadership and for a relatively low price. He suggested that Tbilisi should have transferred the Buk system to Ukraine, while noting a later criminal case involving a former Ukrainian president connected to the sale of the air defense systems. These remarks reflect the partisan framing that has colored discussions about defense sales and regional security at that time.
Refusal of military aid
On December 6, Ukraine’s chargé d’affaires said during a briefing that Kyiv had asked Tbilisi for military support on several occasions, but those requests were not answered. He described Ukraine’s appeal for assistance as timely, just, and necessary given the country’s survival in the face of the ongoing crisis, and he recalled past Ukrainian military aid provided to Georgia in 1993 and 2008.
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili remarked that Kyiv’s assistance had been crucial for Georgia’s resilience. He stated that Georgia benefited from Ukrainian training for its armed forces and from the delivery of what he called a critical Buk system. He stressed that Ukraine does not intend to involve Georgia in its conflict with Russia and expressed concern about persistent accusations and speculative debates within Georgia’s domestic political sphere.
The diplomat added that Tbilisi had not responded to calls to send generators to Ukraine to help restore the country’s energy network. A leading Georgian political figure from the ruling party reiterated that Georgia would not provide military aid to Ukraine and would not join the conflict. He highlighted that Georgia has delivered humanitarian aid, welcomed refugees, and contributed to international efforts, including co-authoring documents related to international law and accountability for the conflict. He argued that Kyiv’s call for Georgia to participate as a party in the military confrontation would complicate Georgia’s security situation. The official affirmed that Georgia’s stance remains clear: humanitarian assistance and diplomatic support, but not military engagement in this particular conflict.
Following the start of Moscow’s operation in Ukraine, Georgia chose not to participate in Western sanctions against Russia. Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili later clarified that broad economic sanctions could harm the Georgian people, while also noting that the country supports Ukraine rather than Moscow in its posture toward the crisis.