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overthrow of the legitimately elected government of Georgia by force. Against the background of the foregoing, the possible appointment of Saakashvili will most likely be perceived in Tbilisi as an unfriendly and unacceptable step on the part of the strategic partner," he added.
On April 22, Saakashvili announced that he had received an offer from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to become deputy PM for reforms in the Ukrainian cabinet.
"It is a great honour for me to receive from the president an offer to become Deputy Prime Minister of the Ukrainian government for reforms. I also had a very informative and useful conversation with Prime Minister Shmyhal, during which we discussed in detail all the issues related to my possible work in the government," Saakashvili wrote on his Facebook page.
The same day,​ ​Zelenskiy confirmed the offer to Saakashvili​, ​adding that he sees potential in Saakashvili for assisting the Ukrainian government. "The President met with Saakashvili to discuss the latter's vision of possible support for development of Ukraine. Saakashvili is a well-known figure on the international stage and he has shown his experience in successful implementation of reforms. [I see] in Saakashvili potential for assistance to the Ukrainian government and proposed to him he shares his opinion on developments with the government and the parliament of Ukraine."
2.7​ ​EU’s member states strike agreement on membership “aspirations” and economic “integration” of Eastern Partnership nations
The EU’s 27 member states have struck an agreement on the membership "aspirations" and economic "integration" of eastern neighbours Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine into the bloc, RFE/RL has reported.
The text of the agreement, agreed on by the ambassadors of the member countries on May 5 and seen by news outlet, represents the response to the European Commission's communique on the Eastern Partnership presented in March.
The Eastern Partnership was launched in 2009. It is meant to bring the six nations closer to the EU without a clear offer of future membership.
Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine have since inked Association Agreements with the EU, including free trade deals. Some member states have, however proved reluctant to openly discuss the eventual accession of these countries.
The European Council "recalls the 2017 Eastern Partnership Summit declaration which acknowledges the European aspirations and European choice of the Eastern partners concerned," the final document agreed by the ambassadors read, RFE/RL said, adding that it also stated that "continued alignment with the EU internal market and gradual economic integration" of eastern partner countries are "of key importance."
The wording is very similar to the language used in previous EU documents.
12​ GEORGIA Country Report ​June 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com