I had the opportunity to meet with my counterpart, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, as well as the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
We examined the overall framework of bilateral relations, Greece’s ability to assist Ukraine’s efforts, but also broader issues related to International Law. Because, to be clear, Greece’s support to Ukraine, both bilaterally and in the framework of NATO and the EU, has a solid basis: respect for International Law, territorial integrity and independence of all states, and the United Nations Charter.
I also had the opportunity to highlight the fact that Greek society faces similar challenges. It is being threatened by a larger neighbour in a way that is completely contrary to International Law, and therefore Greek society can very easily understand people’s fight for independence and territorial sovereignty.
I believe we have just completed an important visit today here in Kyiv.
I’d also like to say that it was touching for me when Dmytro Kuleba, while being taken to a shelter – because we had to go down to the second basement after the sirens sounded and the city was being shelled- repeated the symbol of the Greek War of Independence, “Freedom or Death”. This demonstrates that Ukrainian society understands challenges in the same way we do.
