Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis from Odessa on the sidelines of the 4th Ukraine-Eastern Europe summit.

“My presence here sends a multiple message of support to Ukraine to this very difficult time,” The prime minister told the newspaper “TA NEA” and journalist Costas Onissenko.

‘What urgent is to go to a ceasefireas President Zelenski has accepted it, but unfortunately, President Putin has not yet accepted it and then the start of the negotiations for a peacewhich should be done with fair termsin the terms of Ukraine, and not in conditions of absolute capitulation ‘, Mr. Mitsotakis noted.

For the Greek proposal for a joint European defensethe prime minister said that ‘The fact that the Rearm Europe -as suggested by the European Commission- is made anymore realityIt is also due to the great pressure that the Greek government has exerted over time “and stressed that” it is very important that Europe now realizes that it must invest in its common defense. “

The prime minister also pointed out that any country may face in future the risk of hybrid war/propaganda. “It’s the new reality, which we should manage from now on.”

In detail the Prime Minister’s statements:

Costas Onisenko: Mr. Prime Minister, tell me first, what is the general feeling of this meeting?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, I would like to remind you that this meeting between the states of Nethe -Eastern Europe and Ukraine was an idea of ​​the Greek government. The first meeting had taken place in Athens in August 2023 and was established as an institution and I am very pleased to be in Odessa for the second time. As you know, Odessa is a city that is identified with Greek history and consequently the My presence here sends a multiple message of support of Ukraine In this very difficult time.

I think it’s commonplace that at this moment this urging is to go to a ceasefire of fireas President Zelenski has accepted it, but unfortunately, President Putin has not yet accepted it and then the start of the negotiations for one peaceBut which should be done in fair terms, under the terms of Ukraine, and not in conditions of absolute capitulation.

Costas Onisenko: The Greek proposal for common European defense It seems that it is slowly accepted by other countries. Will we see some practical steps in this direction next time?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: First of all, the fact that the Rearm Europe -as suggested by the European Commission- is made anymore realityIt is also due to a degree to the great pressure that the Greek government has exerted over time in order for Europe to take more seriously the issues of European defense.

Already Greece has activate the national escape clause. We will have 500 million additional costs that will not be taken into account in the deficit objectives for the next year and we are considering other financial tools to see whether and how we may use them.

It is very important that the Europe he now realizes that he must Invest in her common defense. But that is not enough. We have said many times that a supplementary additional European financial tool will also be needed to borrow Europe, as it did in the case of the recovery fund, in order to support common projects that relate to Europe defensively, overall.

It is not just national budgets or even the safe where we are essentially talking about loans, not grants, to fill the defensive gap that Europe has today.

Costas Onissenko: At the Summit he heard from various countries the Risk of Hybrid War/Propaganda. Do you think that and Greece can face such a problem?

Kyriakos Mitsotakis: Any country can face such a problem in the future. Is something that apparently employs all European countries. There are multiple misinformation campaigns, intervention in internal political affairs of European countries. It is the new reality, which we need to manage from now on.

And obviously the citizens themselves should be very much more sensitizedmuch more suspicious and control the information that is being moved by the media with some relevant liability. To put it very simply, not always believe from the first moment we see anything and anything that can circulate online.