Maria Zakharova on Georgia’s aspiration to join the EU by 2030: The main question is whether there will be anything left to join. We are building our bilateral relations based on mutual respect and mutual benefit

The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, stated that it is unclear whether the European Union will even exist in 2030 for Georgia to “enter.”

Specifically, when discussing Georgia’s potential readiness to join the EU by 2030, Zakharova remarked that the main question is whether “there will be anything left to join” by then.

She mentioned the United Kingdom and said that “London didn’t leave something good.”

“You know, the main point is that those who are striving to join the EU in thirty or so years, or in any other timeframe, need to consider whether there will be anything left to join,” Zakharova said during a briefing.

According to her, Moscow and Tbilisi are aiming to enhance business and humanitarian cooperation and are working in a planned manner toward normalizing relations — something that “serves the interests of both the Russian and Georgian peoples.”

Zakharova stated that “the crisis within the European Union is so evident, and its potential so predictable, that there is no place in it for those who care about their national economies.” Therefore, “this is a sovereign matter for each country.”

She emphasized that those considering EU membership “should look at concrete figures, not just slogans,” and added that Moscow has “repeatedly” discussed this with Tbilisi.

“We have talked about this with Georgia many times, despite the existing political disagreements and the absence of diplomatic relations, but we are building our bilateral ties on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. A dialogue is ongoing in this direction,” Zakharova said.