Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis addressed the war in Ukraine and the immense human toll suffered by the Ukrainian people over the past three years during his intervention in a teleconference at the Summit for Ending the War.
“Three years since the beginning of the invasion, I believe this is an important moment to reflect on the enormous human cost. So much pain has been inflicted, so much destruction, and so many lives have been disrupted. It is imperative that we all work towards ending this conflict. Your sacrifices and those of your people, dear Volodymyr, cannot be in vain. I also believe it is important to take a step back and recognize that your resilience and courage, your personal courage, have been remarkable,” Mitsotakis stated during his intervention at the leaders’ summit organized by Kyiv to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Ukraine deserves a peace forged through strength, a peace that respects its independence and, above all, safeguards its security. At the same time, I believe there is a common understanding among all our interventions: only Ukraine can, must, and will decide whether to accept or reject any peace proposal. No one else, no one, can make this decision on Kyiv’s behalf. It must be ensured that Kyiv is part of the process, and only Ukraine has the right to determine its own future,” he emphasized.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for a peace agreement with clear security guarantees that will serve as a deterrent and a safeguard for the future—guarantees that are strong and effective in preventing any future aggression and maintaining stability.
Addressing European defense, Mitsotakis highlighted that Greece spends more than 3% of its GDP on defense and stated that it is time for others to do the same. “After three years of war that has caused destruction on an unimaginable scale, we must support this goal. We must act with greater determination. We must not only bring this conflict to an end but also ensure that we establish a framework to prevent such catastrophes in the future,” he said.
“The road ahead will not be easy; it will undoubtedly be filled with challenges. But there is a vision that guides us forward: a future where Ukraine is a peaceful, secure, democratic, and independent country. And, dear Volodymyr, a European Ukraine—a nation that can look to the future with optimism and confidence,” the Prime Minister concluded.
