ATHENS – Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has also jeopardized the security of the European Union, Greece having been among the first to rip Russian President Vladimir Putin’s war.

Panagiotoulos said it was a condemnation of international law but Russia remains on the UN Security Council, although it lost its position on the Human Rights Council for the slaughter of thousands of civilians.

Speaking at Ramstein Air Base in Germany at a meeting of defense ministers from 40 countries, organized at the initiative of US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Panagiotopoulos said Greece stands with Ukraine, although it won’t sent any more weapons.

He noted that Greece took that stance even though there is worry about Russian retaliation over EU sanctions, with Putin now turning off the gas taps for Poland and Bulgaria. Russia is the EU’s major supplier of energy.

The meeting discussed developments in Ukraine after the Russian invasion and the need for immediate assistance to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in defending the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, said Kathimerini.

But that talk wasn’t followed up with sending the weapons that Ukraine said it needs to beat back the invaders, and Russia also raised the specter of using nuclear weapons to gain a victory.

The head of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (GEETHA), Konstantinos Floros, also participated in the meeting but it wasn’t said what he added to the talk.