ATHENS – Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke by telephone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday to express Greece’s full support.

Government sources said that Mitsotakis expressed Greece’s support for stricter European Union sanctions on Russia, and said he was prepared to provide help to Ukraine in any sectors it requests. He also mentioned that the Greek Consulates General in Odessa and Mariupol continue to operate.

The sources said Zelensky thanked Mitsotakis for Greece’s stance and his personal one on behalf of the Ukraine, and called for continued support within the EU framework.

The Ministry of Health is preparing shipment of medical material, it was made known.

Earlier, Mitsotakis had an extensive collaboration with Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias.

Greek PM spoke by phone with European Council President Charles Michel on developments in Ukraine on Saturday.

Mariupol and Odessa consulates remain open

Mitsotakis spoke by phone also on Saturday morning with Greek Ambassador Frangiskos Kostelenos, who has been urgently dispatched to Mariupol in the Ukraine to support the Greek consulate remaining open there and Consul General in Odessa Dimitris Dochtsis.

The Mariupol (Marioupoli) area has a large community of diaspora Greeks numbering to around 150,000. Its consulate there as well as the consulate general in Odessa remain open.

Government sources said the premier expressed his appreciation for the two diplomats’ services under extremely difficult circumstances. The consular services in the two cities are in constant touch with the Foreign Affairs ministry to assist Greek residents, members of the diaspora and journalists in the area, sources added.

Mitsotakis at extraordinary NATO summit: Russia’s aggressive actions violate International Law

Russia’s aggressive actions violate International Law, and they also harm European and international security and stability, noted Greek Prime Minister, at the extraordinary virtual summit of NATO heads of state & government, held via secure teleconference on Friday.

The Greek premier added that Greece upholds the principles of respect to territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of all countries, and he condemned Russia’s revisionist actions which run against these principles, it was reported.

Revisionism is a major threat to world peace and it should not be tolerated, he added, while he also suggested that all NATO-member states commit to implementing the framework of sanctions against Russia, as it has been decided by the EU.

Russia’s agression in Ukraine has highlighted the need for European strategic autonomy, and for the strengthening of NATO’s European security policy, which requires that EU member states spend more on their defense, stressed Mitsotakis.

Mitsotakis underlined the need for gradually moving away from dependence on Russian natural gas.

The Greek Prime Minister attended the NATO teleconference from the National Defense Ministry in Athens, in the presence of Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff (HNDS) General Konstantinos Floros, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s General Secretary Themistoklis Demiris, and the Director of the Prime Minister’s Diplomatic Office Eleni Sourani.