So far, neither Russian nor Georgian officials have commented on the proposal. The two countries have had no direct diplomatic relations since August 2008, when Georgia launched an attack on its breakaway region of South Ossetia. Russia, acting as a peacekeeper in the region under international mandate, intervened and drove Georgian troops away.

The armed conflict included sporadic encounters between Russian and Georgian naval forces. One Georgian vessel was destroyed in combat and another one was heavily damaged. The Georgian navy suffered further losses after Russian forces captured the port city of Gori and sank several ships.