K. Mitsotakis: "The participation of our soldiers in this war is out of the question."

No one expected President Putin to decide to invade Ukraine, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with the Greek television channel Alfa, referring to the outbreak of war.

Main points

“No one expected that President Putin would decide to invade Ukraine.” “Putin decided to impose his way of life on another country.” “Then it just became known to us. I mean President Putin, not Russia, because I think that most Russians did not want this war.” “It is absolutely essential that the fighting stop now. Russia today is globally isolated. You saw the resolution at the UN” “Congratulations to the journalists who cover this war. There was a main connection with the Russians that the convoy of cars was leaving. This does not mean that tens of thousands of Ukrainians of Greek origin are out of danger.” “Greece does not currently have the highest level ties with Russia We didn’t want this war, the West didn’t want it, EU, NATO” “Sanctions are already bringing the Russian economy to its knees, and the weakest will suffer” “It is important that there be a ceasefire. It is urgent to protect civilians.” “Sending military equipment to Ukraine was a morally correct and state necessity” “With what moral dignity would we ask for such help if we were in a similar situation. We had a reason to be on the right side of history.” “In our age of rationalism, arguments in favor of demilitarization are irrelevant.” “These decisions are at the level of the prime minister. With the exception of KINAL, all the rest were in “For”. “The choice of the West to defend the values ​​of democracy, freedom and territorial integrity will have consequences in tourism, in trade” “The participation of our soldiers in this war is out of the question.”

“We did not expect this, because we really are in front of a new world. This is the destruction of the regime of peace and security. We are talking about a new cold war, about which no one knows how it will end. Putin decided to impose his way of life on another country. It concerns all of us, and that is why there has been such a general reaction. I mean President Putin, not Russia, because I think that most Russians did not want this war. Today Mariupol is under siege. There is a humanitarian catastrophe. It is absolutely essential that the fighting cease now. Russia today is globally isolated. You saw the resolution at the UN,” the prime minister said.

“There was a connection with Russia”

“There was an agreement with the Russians that a convoy of cars was leaving,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, referring to the operation to evacuate emigrants from Mariupol. “This does not mean that tens of thousands of Ukrainians of Greek origin are not in danger,” the prime minister stressed.

“In this matter, Russia has chosen the tactics of bombing, which, unfortunately, will also affect civilians. Greece currently does not have the highest level of communication with Russia. We did not want this war, the West, the EU, NATO did not want it. Putin chose this, and he will pay for the consequences, and, unfortunately, the Russian people will pay for them. Sanctions are already bringing the Russian economy to its knees and hitting the weakest.

The vast majority of Ukrainians of Greek origin chose to remain in their country. This applies to both Odessa and the Mariupol region. This is likely to change when the area becomes a war zone. It is important to have a truce. It is imperative to protect the civilian population,” he said.

It is morally correct, it is nationally necessary to send weapons to Ukraine

Answering a question about the supply of military equipment to Ukraine, the Prime Minister said: “It was morally right and nationally necessary. We did the right thing, as did the vast majority of European countries,” he said in an interview, referring to the transfer of military equipment to Ukraine. “The EU has decided to provide defense equipment. With what moral dignity would we ask for such help if we were in a similar situation. We had a reason to be on the right side of history. In this age of rationalism, arguments in favor of demilitarization are irrelevant. These decisions are at the level of the prime minister. With the exception of KINAL, everyone else was in favor, but there was a debate in Parliament. I don’t believe in the advice of political leaders. These are debates that, in the form in which they are organized, offer nothing,” the prime minister said.

List of persons for sanctions

Commenting on whether sanctions against Moscow could affect businessmen working in Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis said:

“There is a list of people, Russian oligarchs, close to Putin. We will act accordingly for them. This does not apply to all potential investors. This choice of the West to protect the values ​​of democracy, freedom and territorial integrity will have consequences in tourism, in trade,” he added.

“Turkey will reconsider its rhetoric”

“Today Turkey is making a choice. It is not my job to tell her management how she will move. Revisionism, promoting imperial ambitions is an unpopular policy today. I believe that Turkey will reconsider the rhetoric that we have seen in recent months regarding our country. Today there is no audience for any revisionism, for any demilitarization. That’s why it’s so important to be on the right side of history, with our allies. Absolutely not, there can be no question of the participation of our soldiers in this war,” the prime minister said.

Nevertheless: if we are asked to send troops to neighboring countries, we will do it

“If we are asked to send troops to neighboring countries, we will do it. US [пока] didn’t ask. The foreign and defense policy of the country is substantiated. We have invested in our alliances with France. We have strengthened the prestige of the Motherland. We have made our country an energy hub and raised the issue of eliminating defense spending in the first place. All these decisions, for which the government was criticized, were justified in practice,” he said.

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