On March 25, during a press conference, Maria Zakharova, the Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, stated that Tbilisi appears to be realizing that the "key" to Georgia’s prosperity lies "not in confrontation, but in cooperation with Russia," while addressing the prospects for political dialogue between the two countries.

Zakharova emphasized that Russia received news of the patriarch’s passing "with deep sorrow," describing him as a "true spiritual leader" who sought to preserve Orthodox unity and uphold traditional values. She noted that the Russian and Georgian peoples are "bound by the closest historical ties" and, despite "well-known political disagreements on certain issues," Russia continues to encourage the development of bilateral relations. "It appears that the Georgian side is also interested in constructive relations with Russia," she stated.

Highlighting economic factors, Zakharova claimed that interaction with Russia is "one of the key factors" behind Georgia’s "unprecedented" economic growth. She described bilateral ties as "natural" and "not artificially imposed," adding, "We do not follow Western practices – we do not allow them to be applied to us, nor do we ever adhere to such approaches ourselves." In the absence of formal diplomatic relations, she said, Moscow prioritizes people-to-people contacts and economic cooperation.

Citing trade data, Zakharova asserted that CIS countries account for 70% of Georgian exports, significantly exceeding the EU’s share. "This is significant," she noted, arguing that such figures demonstrate the "lack of real results" from Georgia’s free trade agreement with the EU signed in 2014. "Statistics contradict EU propaganda. No one in Brussels ever intended to open its market to Georgian goods… In practice, nothing has happened, nothing exists, and nothing will," she added. She also highlighted the importance of tourism ties between the two countries.

Addressing the prospects for political dialogue, Zakharova reiterated that Moscow is ready for "substantive discussions" with Tbilisi "if and when" it is prepared to engage. She attributed the lack of dialogue to what she called the "legacy of the criminal and reckless regime" of Mikheil Saakashvili, adding, "Rationally justifying the benefits of such an approach for Georgia is probably difficult."

"I believe that in Tbilisi, realizing the true objectives of the West regarding their country, they begin to understand that the key to Georgia’s prosperity lies not in confrontation, but in cooperation with Russia," Zakharova emphasized.