Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s steadfast support for Ukraine during the 4th Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit held in Odessa on Wednesday, June 11.
Invited by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mitsotakis condemned Russia’s latest large-scale missile and drone attacks on civilians, calling them “a flagrant violation of International Humanitarian Law.”
“We have made this clear from the beginning—that you have the inherent right to defend yourselves against Russian aggression,” he said, adding, “Greece will continue to support Ukraine, as it did from the very start, diplomatically, politically, financially, militarily, and in humanitarian ways.”
Mitsotakis described Odessa as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance and emphasised the urgent need for an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” as the first step toward a just and lasting peace.
He stressed that any peace deal must be acceptable to Ukraine and commended the country for its sincerity, contrasting it with the stance of “the other side.”
Σήμερα στην Οδησσό, μια πόλη που έχει ιδιαίτερη ιστορική και πολιτιστική σημασία για την Ελλάδα, συμμετείχα στην 4η Σύνοδο Κορυφής Ουκρανίας-Νοτιοανατολικής Ευρώπης. Η Ελλάδα θα συνεχίσει να στηρίζει την Ουκρανία. pic.twitter.com/Y4mtQkpb5E
— Prime Minister GR (@PrimeministerGR) June 11, 2025
The Greek Prime Minister also outlined a vision for a major EU-funded infrastructure corridor linking Alexandroupolis, Varna, Constanza, and Odessa—enhancing regional connectivity for transport, energy, and trade.
“It would be a clear message as to how your accession to the European Union could make a real difference to the people of Ukraine,” he noted.
At a joint press conference following the summit, Mitsotakis addressed European defence cooperation, saying Russia’s invasion had been “a violent geopolitical awakening.”
He backed new EU defence initiatives like ReArm and the SAFE mechanism, which aim to boost collective spending and partnerships with EU candidate countries.
He pointedly stated that countries seeking EU defence funding, such as Turkey, must align with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy, adding, “It is a tool designed for the purpose of protecting Europe in its entirety.”
Earlier in the day, Mitsotakis and other leaders visited Shevchenko Park, where they laid a wreath in the Alley of Heroes. He also held a private meeting with President Zelenskyy.
