"We are not ready to transfer F-16 aircraft in Ukraine. Such information appeared in the media, but it does not correspond to reality, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with the Rzeczpospolita newspaper. "But I want to emphasize that we supported and continue to support Ukraine. We made this decision at the very beginning of the invasion.
According to Mitsotakis, Greece is a country that has always been "on the right side of history" and supports Ukraine in the confrontation with Russia.
"We have historically strong cultural and religious ties with Russia, but we strongly oppose the regime in the Kremlin," stated the Greek Prime Minister.
Missotakis noted that Greece will support Ukraine to the best of its ability without compromising its own defense capabilities.
The Prime Minister recalled that Greece has already supplied Ukraine with a significant amount of 155 mm shells.
"But I would like to emphasize once again that we have concerns for our own safety. That is why we must be very careful that supplies to Ukraine do not reduce our ability to act as a strong deterrent," Mitsotakis said.
Regarding the incident during his visit to Odessa, in which a Russian missile exploded half a kilometer from the Greek delegation, Mitsotakis said he thought it was an "act of intimidation," but that nothing would change in the position of Greece, nor in that of the EU. "When Putin invaded Ukraine, he thought Europe would be divided," the prime minister said. "But Europe is surprisingly united. All these geopolitical upheavals have brought the European defense debate to the fore."