Greek PM Mitsotakis: Athens right in sending arms to Ukraine

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis confidently defended his government’s stance so far vis-à-vis the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Athens unequivocally condemning the attacks as well as joining a majority of European countries who have sent weapons to the embattled Ukrainians.

In an interview with an Athens-based television channel, Mitsotakis said it was clear that a “free country is under attack”.

At the same time, the Greek premier included a quip about Turkey in the Russian-instigated conflict – saying that Greece would lack any “moral standing…if we, in the future, would request the same things, if we found ourselves in the same situation?”

“We needed to take a stand quickly and without asterisks. We sent a message that we’re on the right side of history … the logic of revisionism and demilitarization have no place,” Mitsotakis said, with the latter statement also directed at Erdogan-led Turkey.

In reply to criticism by much of the political opposition against the dispatch of lethal weapons to Ukraine, Mitsotakis said the decision was his after provided authorization by the top government defense and foreign affairs body (KYSEA), while dismissing the idea of first having to convene a political party leaders’ meeting. “Whatever we have to say, we say in Parliament”.

Asked if Athens will consider sending troops to countries neighboring Ukraine, he said that if requested by NATO then “we will naturally do so, but this has not been requested yet.”

Nevertheless, taking to the prime minister’s official Twitter account after the taped interview was aired, he clarified:

“There’s a justified concern today on the part of Greek public opinion. ‘Is a war? How will we be affected? We’ll we fight in some manner? The answer is an absolute no. There is no issue of a participation by Greek troops, NATO forces in this war”.

Finally, queried over Turkey’s current role as a “dexterous neutral” in the crisis, Mitsotakis said that “the entire world views our interests in a positive way. Turkey has made its choice … revisionism and the promotion of imperial ambitions is not a popular policy. Identifying with Putin’s practices does not make one popular.”