Newly appointed Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has ended a temporary representative's long-term mission to Georgia as one of his first personnel moves, suggesting the outgoing representative, Mykhaylo Kharyshin, doesn't understand the realities of diplomacy in wartime.
Kharyshin had recently suggested publicly that unnamed forces were trying to undermine Georgia and Ukraine's historically strong relations.
Sybiha was appointed as foreign minister on September 5 amid one of Ukraine's biggest government revamps since the ongoing Russian invasion began 2 1/2 years ago.
Sybiha said on social media after reportedly consulting with Kyiv's ambassadors and consuls that weapons and other defense needs for Ukraine were the unconditional priority of Ukrainian diplomacy.
Kyiv replaced its ambassadorial presence in Tbilisi with a temporary representative more than two years ago, following up on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's announcement just a week into the invasion that he was recalling his ambassador to Georgia for consultations due to the Georgian government's alleged obstruction blocking volunteers seeking to help Ukraine, and over sanctions.
Georgia's ambassador to Kyiv, Giorgi Zakarashvili, left Ukraine in July 2023 amid more public spats between Zelenskiy and Tbilisi.
Tensions have ratcheted up throughout the war, including as Georgia's ruling party has seemingly softened on aspects of its relations with Moscow and stoked disputes with its Western partners.