**Ukrainian President Zelensky Meets with Georgian Counterpart in Paris**
On December 7, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with his Georgian counterpart Salome Zourabichvili on the sidelines of a ceremony reopening Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The meeting comes at a tense time for Georgia, where protests against the ruling Georgian Dream party have been ongoing.
**Protests Against Georgian Ruling Party**
The protests in Tbilisi began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that the country would suspend its bid to join the European Union until 2028. The move was widely seen as a attempt by the Georgian Dream party to consolidate power and undermine democratic reforms.
**Ukrainian Support for Georgia**
President Zelensky expressed his support for the Georgian people, saying “We stand in solidarity with the Georgian people who are fighting for their future.” He also criticized the ruling party’s ties to Russia, saying it was “important to always respect the will of the people and not let the Ivanishvili government surrender the country to Putin.”
**Georgian President Zourabichvili Seeks Support**
The meeting with President Zelensky comes as Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili seeks international support for her efforts to reform the country’s electoral system. The ruling party has been accused of democratic backsliding and dragging Georgia into Russia’s orbit.
**Sanctions on Georgian Officials**
Ukraine recently imposed sanctions on several key officials from the Georgian Dream party, including leader Bidzina Ivanishvili. President Zelensky welcomed Ukrainian support for Georgia, saying it was “important to show our international partners that we stand with the Georgian people.”
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