PRESS RELEASE : President of Ukraine had a meeting with the President of Greece [November 2022]

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 3 November 2022.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a meeting with President of Greece Katerina Sakellaropoulou who is on a visit to our country.

The Head of State thanked the President of Greece for the visit, which is taking place at a time when both Ukrainians and all Europeans need maximum unity and cooperation.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that today’s negotiations were meaningful and important for both countries.

“I can say that we are really working together with the Greek side to end this war as soon as possible, to end Russian criminal aggression and to return normal life to Ukraine. It is with this goal in mind that we are developing our cooperation in the defense, political, economic and humanitarian spheres,” the Ukrainian Head of State said during a conversation with media representatives following the negotiations with Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Kyiv.

The President of Ukraine informed the interlocutor about the situation at the front and talked about the role of the weapons provided by Greece for the protection of Ukrainians. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Greece for transferring the batch of BMP-1 to our country.

“We discussed the capabilities of Greece to continue to help Ukraine restore our territorial integrity,” he said.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the liberation of Ukrainian land from the Russian invaders will restore security to those areas where the Greek community traditionally lives.

“Ukraine has become home for more than 100,000 Greeks. Most of the cities and villages – homes of the Greek community on Ukrainian soil – were completely destroyed by Russian terrorists,” the Head of State noted.

The President emphasized the importance of restoring justice for all families of Ukrainian Greeks who lost their loved ones due to Russian aggression.

“All Russian murderers, all Russian torturers must be brought to justice for their crimes. And I believe that Greece will take an active part in international efforts aimed at creating a special tribunal for the crime of aggression by Russia against Ukraine and a special international compensation mechanism that will ensure that Russia compensates for the damage caused by this war,” he said.

The Presidents of Ukraine and Greece discussed the sanctions policy, in particular the preparation of the ninth package of EU sanctions against Russia, which should give a powerful response to the aggressor for its terror.

The leaders of the two states also focused on the problem of the energy threat that the Russian Federation deliberately created for Ukraine and the whole of Europe.

“The anti-European policy of this state must be punished, because now there is not a single family on our continent that would not feel the consequences of Russian energy blackmail,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy is convinced.

He noted that during the meeting with Katerina Sakellaropoulou, attention was paid to the reconstruction of Ukraine after hostilities.

“I informed Mrs. President about our fast recovery plan, about the current main reconstruction needs. I hope that we will be able to establish effective cooperation with Greece in the field of reconstruction,” said the Head of State.

The President said that during the meeting he raised the issue of Greece’s recognition of the Holodomor as an act of genocide against the Ukrainian people.

For her part, Katerina Sakellaropoulou noted that her visit today is evidence of support for Ukraine.

“When we talk about democracy, European values, the European Union and the international community must support these values and protect them. We are on your side from day one. We commend your determination to protect your territorial integrity and we will support you for as long as necessary,” the President of Greece noted.

Katerina Sakellaropoulou emphasized the need to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders.

“We will never recognize the illegal annexation of the regions of Ukraine to the state that attacked you,” she said.

The President noted that Greece condemns the Russian aggression, as a result of which Ukrainians die and infrastructure is being damaged. She emphasized that Russia should be held to account for these crimes.

According to Katerina Sakellaropoulou, Greece supports the policy of sanctions on the Russian Federation and Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.