Mitsotakis assures Zelenskyy of govt’s full support

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Greece’s “full support” for his government in a telephone call, the prime minister’s office said on Monday.

The call was made on the initiative of the Ukrainian leader and the conversation focused on how to deal with the adverse effects in Ukraine on the 19th day of the Russian invasion.

“The prime minister assured Mr Zelenski of the full support of the Greek government in Ukraine and that Greece would send aid and receive Ukrainian refugees as well as from the Greek diaspora,” a government statement said.

The Prime Minister’s Office also said the leaders discussed the dramatic situation in the areas where the Greek community lives, noting the need to open a humanitarian corridor for the safe exit of civilians as well to enable humanitarian aid reach the city.

It said Mitsotakis said he wanted to ensure that see the Greek consul general and others trapped in the OSCE building in Mariupol could move freely.

“The prime minister noted that the EU sent an important political message of support from France last week for Ukraine’s European perspective. He also stressed that the full implementation of sanctions by all partners and allies will help put pressure on the Russian side to stop the attacks,” the statement concluded.

Turkish President Erdogan wishes Greek PM Mitsotakis a speedy recovery from Covid-19

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to wish him a speedy recovery from Covid-19.

On Twittter, Mitsotakis wrote in English: “Thank you President Erdogan for your call and your kind wishes for a speedy recovery!”

Alt. FM Varvitsiotis meets with US Asst. Secretary of State Karen Donfried in Washington

Greek Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis met with US Assistant Secretary of State for European & Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried in Washington on Monday.

In the presence of US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Erika Olson, who is overseeing policy for Southern Europe and the Caucasus, Varvitsiotis and Donfried discussed Greece-US strategic collaboration, the security situation in Europe after the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and energy issues.

Regarding Ukraine, the minister noted that Greece condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the very first moment it unfolded, and he proposed the implementation of sanctions by all NATO member states, including Turkey, which, he said, is still not participating in these sanctions.

“Sanctions will be credible and effective via a united front of partners and allies,” he stressed.

Concerning Greek-Turkish relations, Varvitsiotis pointed out that Greece remains open to a dialogue with Turkey, but Ankara -following the Sunday meeting of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan- must show, in practice, that it has abandoned its agressive rhetoric and its revisionism, and that it respects International Law and Law of the Sea.