Georgian Dream claims NATO rejected Ukraine, Georgia in 2008, seeing them as "cannon fodder" against Russia

SOVA reported the information.

Ivanishvili argued that this decision wasn't due to objections from individual member states, but was instead a strategic move by NATO leaders to avoid a direct military conflict with Russia.

"Let's not forget the 2008 NATO summit, where Ukraine and Georgia were denied membership. People blamed individual countries for this, but the reality is far more complex," Ivanishvili emphasized.

He further suggested that Georgia and Ukraine were seen as tools for involving them in conflict while NATO stayed out of direct military engagement.

"Many Western politicians claim they’re doing everything to keep NATO out of Russia’s war. They’ll provide Ukraine with weapons, money, whatever it needs — but Ukraine alone should be the 'living force.' Politicians from Europe and the U.S. repeatedly state that they won’t let NATO get pulled into the war," Ivanishvili added.

• Meanwhile, European ministers from 13 EU member states recently published a joint statement on Georgia, warning that the country won’t be able to join the bloc unless its government changes course.