Mitsotakis reaffirms Ukraine support at Odessa Summit, sends message to Turkiye

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s steadfast support for Ukraine at the 4th Ukraine–Southeast Europe Summit in Odessa on Wednesday, condemning Russia’s continued attacks and highlighting the need for unified European defense.

Speaking alongside regional leaders, Mitsotakis expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people amid renewed Russian missile and drone strikes. He denounced the bombardments as “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law” and affirmed that Ukraine has every right to defend its sovereignty.

“Greece will continue to support Ukraine diplomatically, politically, economically, militarily and humanitarily,” he said.

Prime Minister also emphasized Odessa’s historic and symbolic importance, calling it “a city that today embodies Ukrainian resistance,” and urged for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire as a step toward lasting peace.

THE PORT OF ALEXANDROUPOLİS

Mitsotakis outlined a major infrastructure proposal to connect Greece’s port of Alexandroupoli with Odessa via Varna and Constanta, integrating transport, energy, and communications networks — a project aimed at bolstering regional security and cooperation.

Addressing European defense, Mitsotakis said the war in Ukraine had exposed Europe’s vulnerabilities and underscored the importance of initiatives like the EU’s ReArm and SAFE programs for defense readiness.

MESSAGE TO TURKIYE

In a pointed remark directed at Turkiye, he stressed that access to European defense funds would require alignment with the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. “The mechanism is designed to protect Europe as a whole,” he added, signaling that neutrality or divergence from EU policy would carry consequences.

The summit concluded with a private meeting between Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underlining Greece’s ongoing role in regional diplomacy and reconstruction planning.