Amid air strikes and explosions in the Black Sea port of Odesa, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived in the city on Sunday as the head of a humanitarian mission.
During his mission, Dendias delivered badly-needed aid to city authorities, met members of the Greek diaspora and Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov, and assessed the condition of premises linked with Greek history such as the Museum of the Filiki Etairia.
Dendias then announced the reopening of the Greek Consulate in Odessa and thanked Consul General Dimitris Dohtsis and his associates for the way in which they perform their duty.
“The operation of the Consulate will help distribute humanitarian aid and will create evacuation corridors for the Greek community from all areas of Ukraine through Odessa, if the need arises. It also underlines our historic presence in the city,” the Greek Foreign Minister said upon his arrival in Odesa.
Dendias also reiterated Greece’s unwavering support to the Greek ethnic community in Ukraine.
This visit came as Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed his horror at crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians during the retreat of Russian forces from areas around Kyiv.
“Appalled by the horror of crimes committed against civilians in Bucha. The perpetrators must be held accountable. Greece stands with Ukraine,” Mitsotakis tweeted Sunday evening.
