The Ukrainian Defense Minister expressed the gratitude of the Ukrainian government to Greece for its undivided support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in the war with Russia Oleksei Reznikov.

“Very productive meeting with my colleague, Minister of Defense, Nikos Panagiotopoulos. I am grateful to our Greek friends for their unwavering support to our sovereignty and territorial integrity? humanitarian and defense aid (armored vehicles, ammunition), and their continued participation in Ramstein (Contact Group on Arms Supplies to Ukraine)” emphasized the Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

For strong support of Greece, for as long as needed, to Ukrainethe Ukrainian people and their inherent right to defend their homeland and restore their country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, he assured earlier the Minister of National Defense Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, his Ukrainian counterpartin his statements after the end of the two-hour talks they had in Athens.

At the same time, he reminded that Greece, since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, unequivocally condemned Russian aggression standing by the side of Ukraine and its brave defenders.

We applied all sanctions imposed on the invader, despite their cost to us, he said characteristically.

Our reaction to the Russian invasion, an overtly aggressive action, was swift and decisive, given our clear and firm position against any form of revisionism, whether it challenges basic norms of the international legal order or seeks to change internationally recognized borders, he further commented.

The images from Buka and the hundreds of dead in Mariupol remind us of our duty to the victims and their families, to ensure that those responsible are held accountable, and to continue our unwavering support for Ukraine and its struggling people for his freedom and independence, he added.

Also, the Minister of National Defense expressed Greece’s strong will to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation with Ukraine.

ending up, Mr. Panagiotopoulos reiterated Greece’s solidarity with the Ukrainian people, who suffered and continues to suffer greatly as a result of the invasion and as he said, “to pay tribute to the heroic Armed Forces of Ukraine who are fighting bravely and selflessly for victory.”

Ukrainian Minister of National Defense Alexei Reshnikov expressed his country’s gratitude to the Greek government and people for their support on multiple levels in dealing with the Russian invasion. Our refugees find a home in Greece, he said

At the same time he emphasized that the invaders must be punished, sanctions must be imposed.

Panagiotopoulos

At the same time, he characterized Sweden’s impending NATO membership as symbolic, whose flag bears the same colors as the flag of his country, hoping that the next country will be Ukraine, as, he said, Ukraine has the experience to push back Russia using NATO weapons.

Mr. Reshnikov informed about the current situation on the battlefields, the preparation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ counterattack campaign, the trainings of the soldiers, while he reiterated the need for the provision of artillery shells and heavy infantry weapons.

The Minister of National Defense of Ukraine referred to the need to strengthen the defense cooperation between Greece and Ukraine, after the victorious outcome of the war, especially in the issue of demining the Azov Sea, as, as he said, Greece has a lot of experience both in the sea and in by land, so that the supply of Africa which has been undertaken by Ukraine and is currently carried out through a green corridor under the UN, can continue unhindered.

Finally, the head of GEETHA, welcoming the Minister of National Defense of Ukraine, mentioned among others to Greece’s aid that has been or will be sent to Ukraine, as well as other support actions consisting of:

-72 tons of humanitarian aid,

-3,870 tons of military equipment,

-STINGER anti-aircraft missiles, rockets, artillery shells, rifle ammunition, BMP-1 Armored Personnel Carriers/Combatants,

– Readiness for the transfer – in collaboration with the International Donation Coordination Center (IDCC) – of another shipment of BMP-1 TOMB/TOMA, 73mm HE rockets, artillery and rifle ammunition and

-Maintaining readiness in military hospitals to receive and treat wounded Ukrainian soldiers and officers.

Furthermore, we fully support the European Union Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) in Ukraine, in which we take an active part in the training of its military personnel, providing highly experienced military trainers in many different areas, such as Special Operations Forces, training Leopard tank crews etc, he said.