The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made common statements at the port of Odessa.
The Greek PM is in the war-torn country since Wednesday morning.
It is noted that the visit has been completed, with the Greek delegation having now left Ukrainian territory and heading towards the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, shortly after 17:00.
From there, the next stop is Bucharest, Romania.
The Greek Prime Minister referred to the attack near the convoy of the Ukrainian president, saying, “we heard some sirens and shortly after, as we were going to our cars, we heard a big explosion. For us, it is the best reminder that there is a real war going on here. Every day. Which does not only affect the front line”.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed: “The abhorrence for Russia’s actions against your country has been expressed many times, but such a degree of violence and barbarism that leads to the death of civilians, small children, and even babies, will never cease to cause us pain. Today, we toured here in Odessa, visited the site of the Russian attack, and I was impressed clearly both by the image of the destruction you have suffered and by the image of the resilience and bravery of the Ukrainian people.”
“You know well, dear Volodymyr, that my country has historically defended peace, rejecting any unfounded revisionism. Even more so, as it has in the past faced such aggression. And in times when authoritarianism and despotism are black spots on our map and culture,” noted the Prime Minister elsewhere.
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Kyriakos Mitsotakis had expressed the desire for some time to visit Odessa, in order to address a message of support to Ukraine, as well as a message to the Greek element of Ukraine, given that it is one of the most important centers of Greek education in the Diaspora and the seat of the Philiki Etairia, a symbol of historical and cultural ties.
The Prime Minister emphasized Greece’s intention to contribute to the reconstruction of Odessa, whose historic center was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in January 2023, while he met with representatives of the Greek diaspora and community.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed support for Ukraine, both within the framework of the EU and NATO, which will continue within Greece’s capabilities and without weakening our country’s defense capabilities.
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