Greece - World War III.2
The response of Athens to the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 marked a discontinuity from the past. First, it ended a somewhat cautious policy towards the Ukrainian conflict that had been followed since 2014; second, it ended a long-standing policy of non-military engagement in regional conflicts; and third, it ended a dominant ‘Russia first’ approach in Greece’s Black Sea policy. The positioning of Athens, however, did not depart an inch from the fundamental pillars of its foreign policy as a status-quo power, namely the inviolability of the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.
Greece immediately took a clear position against the unprovoked and unjustified Russian aggression against Ukraine on 24.2.2022, considering it as dangerous revisionism and flagrant violation of International Law and the UN Charter. Greece, together with its partners and allies, is closely monitoring the development of Russia’s war of aggression and fully supports the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders. Greece does not recognize the illegal annexation to the Russian Federation neither of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, nor of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya.
In the summer of 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Greece. During his visit, he announced that Athens would train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets. The head of state also stated that Ukraine relied on Greece for air defense in the Black Sea. Later, it was reported that Greece was suspending funding for support and maintenance programs for Soviet-era anti-aircraft missile systems, as they may be transferred to Ukraine in the future. Recently, Greece's permanent representative to NATO, Spyros Lambridis, said that the Greek government was considering increasing military assistance to Ukraine.
Ukraine needed to strengthen its air defense, which is crucial for the Black Sea region and Odesa. In this regard, Kyiv relies on Greece, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a 21 August 2023 joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "We discussed the situation in the Black Sea region, particularly the threat that Russia has posed to freedom of navigation and ports. We are doing everything possible to restore security in the Black and Azov Sea coasts. This is important from a global perspective," he said. Zelenskyy added that from the standpoint of global food security, Ukraine has created an alternative "grain corridor" in the Black Sea.
"It can work, but for its stability, we need to strengthen our air defense, which is important for the Black Sea region, particularly Odesa. And this can be a historic contribution of Greece to overall European security if you help in defending the Black Sea waters, including air defense systems," he noted. The President mentions that he has proposed ways "how we can do it." "And importantly, Greek companies are ready to transport Ukrainian grain," he emphasized.
A few weeks earlier, Russia announced that it was "suspending" its participation in the "grain deal" until all its conditions are met. As a result, the export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea was halted. In response, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed readiness to continue the agreement's operation in a three-party format.
Greece has decided to join the G7 Declaration to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, according to a statement by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis. "Greece has joined the G7 Declaration regarding security guarantees for Ukraine. We will continue this work on a bilateral level to make the format of security guarantees a model for other states in need of effective security assurances. The world will certainly become more stable as a result of such joint work in the field of security," emphasized the President.
Athens is preparing to extend another security assistance package to Kyiv, including missiles, artillery, and ammunition, Greek outlet eKathimerini reported on 15 March 2024. The report details that the equipment will be contracted by Czechia and sent directly to Ukraine. Czech and Greek officials are currently negotiating the prices for these systems before shaking on the deal. Greek authorities are confident that Ukraine's immediate need is for ammunition.
Greece and Ukraine established diplomatic relations on 15 January 1992. The Embassy of Greece in Kyiv was inaugurated in 1993. Greece maintains a Consulate General in Odessa, covering an area of historical presence of a significant Greek community. Ukraine is represented in Greece by its Embassy in Athens, its Consulate General in Thessaloniki and two Honorary Consulates in Piraeus and Patra.
Bilateral political relations are very good and have developed steadily in all fields since Ukraine became independent (24.08.1991). They are defined by a spirit of mutual cooperation and are based on long-standing historical and cultural ties, to which the contribution of the large Greek community with a long-standing presence in the Black Sea region has been important.
Greece supports Ukraine's integration into the Euro-Atlantic institutions and is ready to assist the country in its EU accession process. Ukraine was granted candidate status to the European Union by a unanimous decision of the European Council of June 2022. At the NATO Bucharest Summit (2008), Allies welcomed Ukraine's aspirations for membership and agreed that it will become a NATO member in the future.
The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Athens on 21 August 2023 and participated in the Athens Summit organised by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the participation of leaders from Balkan countries and Moldova and the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. The President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou visited Kyiv on 3.11.2022. Since the launching of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias made three visits to Ukraine (Kyiv, 19.10.2022, Odessa 3.4.2022 & 12.7.2022).
The Greek presence mainly in southern and eastern Ukraine is significant and dates back to the periods of antiquity and Byzantium. The main centres of Hellenism, Mariupol, Donetsk, 43 villages of the Donbas Region, are today under Russian occupation and have suffered significant human losses and extensive material damage as a result of the devastating battles fought in the region. A number of Greeks and ethnic Greeks in the area have been forcefully displaced.
Cultural and educational activities in Ukraine have been gravely affected by the Russian invasion. Ukraine has pledged to support the continuation of Greek language and culture teaching. The Greek language is currently taught in 5 higher educational institutions of Ukraine. There is also a high level of representation of ethnic Greeks in the local government of Ukraine.
Greece attaches great importance to the preservation of the cultural heritage of Ukraine and has expressed its readiness to contribute to the restoration of cultural sites damaged following the launching of the Russian invasion. Greece responded immediately to Ukraine's request for assistance in the promotion of the nomination of the Historic Centre of Odessa for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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