Kyriakos Mitsotakis' visit to Odessa was not announced, and while relevant information was leaked, the Maximos Palace neither confirmed nor denied that he had visited Ukraine before heading to Bucharest for the EPP conference.
Also, according to government sources, The visit was arranged under highly confidential conditions for security reasons. However, despite the precautions, the situation is still dangerous, as demonstrated by the subsequent explosion of drone strikes near Mitsotakis-Zelensky motorcades.
The same sources say Mitsotakis' visit to Odessa was agreed in the last phone call between the prime minister and the Ukrainian president at the end of January.. A suitable date was then requested through diplomatic channels.
During the joint statement with Zelensky, Mr. They point out that, as Mitsotakis said, he himself had long expressed a desire to travel to Odessa to send a pro-Ukraine message and a message to the Greek element. Country. Given that Odessa was one of the most important centers of Greek education in the Diaspora and was the seat of the Philiki Eteria..
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The actual topic of discussion
Of course, Prime Minister Biliki didn't go to a war zone to get a closer look at Eteria's headquarters. The visit and meeting with Zelensky had real meaning Continuity of support for Ukraine at the political and military level.
Besides, Mr. Government sources stressed that Mitsotakis has expressed support for Ukraine within the European Union and NATO, which will continue within the framework of Greece's capabilities and without weakening our country's defense capabilities.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis with Volodymyr Zelensky
During a phone conversation with Zelensky on January 29, the prime minister assured him of Greece's support.
It is noteworthy that this last phone call was made two days after the US Secretary of State's letter Anthony Blinken For Kyriakos Mitsotakis, among others, it happened Special reference to Ukraine and potential trade-offs for F35s.
“We continue to be interested in defense capabilities that Greece can transfer or sell to Ukraine. If these capabilities are of interest to Ukraine, and pending an assessment of their status and value by the U.S. government, we may explore opportunities to provide up to $200 million in additional foreign military funding to Greece.” Mr. Blinken said in his letter.
It should be noted that the deployment of armored personnel carriers from Greece to Ukraine almost two years ago caused strong reactions, not from the Greek side but from the German Chancellor. Although the government has made it clear several times that there is no question of sending the S-300 to Ukraine, that is what the American side wants.
A previous meeting in Athens
It is worth recalling that the President of Ukraine made his first official visit to Greece last August.
In Athens, with the leaders of the region and EU institutions, Mr. At an informal dinner hosted by Mitsotakis, Mr. Zelensky was seated. According to government sources, the dinner and the Athens Declaration sent a strong message. A strong message of support for Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic perspective of the entire region and for the entire region that this road goes through Athens.
It is significant to follow NATO's decisions – at the Madrid and Vilnius summits last August. Greece joins G7 leaders in declaration of support for UkraineIt reiterates the Alliance's conclusions and reaffirms Ukraine's continued support bilaterally and through the EU and NATO.
During his visit to Odessa, the Prime Minister underlined that Greece's willingness to contribute to the reconstruction of the cityHe met with representatives of the Greek diaspora and diaspora, whose historic center was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in January 2023.