Ahead of the official visit of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany to Georgia, the Georgian First Channel interviewed the Director of Center for Eastern Europe and International Studies in Berlin Gwendolyn Sasse, who spoke about the “Steinmeier formula”.

The professor supposes that the main topic of the visit of the German president to Georgia would not be the resolution of Georgian conflicts, although it is likely that these issues will be discussed.

“It is important not to put the conditions existing in Ukraine and Georgia in the same context. In general, these different conflicts have much in common. This may be the temporary status of disputed territories. But relations between Tbilisi and Moscow again remain vague. In addition, we also talk about the ending of the hot phase of the war in Ukraine, border control and the withdrawal of troops. The situation in Georgia shows that after war problems still remain unsolved and it evidences how long such conflicts can last. Given this, even after Ukraine’s consent to ” Steinmeier formula ” or at the next round of Normandy Format we should not expect rapid resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. This is a long-term process that requires appropriate political conditions both in Moscow and in Tbilisi and Kyiv” – Gwendolyn Sasse said.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany will arrive in Georgia with an official visit today.