Zelensky called Mitsotakis and asked Greece for air defense systems

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had a telephone conversation with the president Vladimir Zelenskywho again turned to Greece with a request to provide systems air defense.

Telephone conversation between Athens and Kyiv

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the president Vladimir Zelensky had a telephone conversation, during which they discussed the latest events at the front and the upcoming session of the European Councilscheduled for October 23–24 in Brussels.

Mitsotakis informed the Ukrainian leader about the results peace summitwhich took place on Monday at Sarma el-Sheikhand Zelensky, for his part, spoke about the ongoing attacks on energy facilities in Ukraine and appealed to Athens with a request to transfer air defense systems.

I spoke with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis @kmitsotakis.

PM Mitsotakis has just returned from the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, which marked an important peace achievement for the Middle East. And it would be right to maintain and build on this momentum. Global… pic.twitter.com/nRuZIHzNzc

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Volodymyr Zelenskyy (@ZelenskyyUa) October 15, 2025

Kyiv’s request and diplomatic formula of gratitude

“We are working to strengthen our air defense before winter. Greece can really help save lives, and I’m grateful for that“- Zelensky wrote in his publication.

Phrase “I am grateful for that” did not sound by chance: the President of Ukraine used an affirmative form, as if help had already been decided. This is a typical diplomatic formula of pressure through thanks in advance – it implies anticipation, not gratitude for a past action.

Mitsotakis between allied duty and internal skepticism

The prime minister, as Athens observers note, found himself in a difficult position. On the one hand, Greece is a member EU and NATOsupporting Ukraine in international structures. On the other hand, there is growing irritation in the country due to the demands of the allies to transfer weapons, including air defense systemscritical to national defense.

Zelensky called Mitsotakis and asked Greece for air defense systems pic.twitter.com/2UQ9ZXSked

— Athens News (@russianathens) October 15, 2025

It is not yet known how Athens will respond to Kyiv’s request. Official sources say that discussions on the issue will continue after the summit in Brussels. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s rhetoric shows that pressure on Greece and other countries on NATO’s southern flank will only increase.

Greek air defense systems: what can be realistically transferred to Ukraine

Athens has one of the most diverse air defense systems in NATOcombining American, European and Russian complexes. That is why the issue of transfer to Ukraine is becoming especially sensitive.

• Patriot PAC-3 – six batteries, one of which is located in Saudi Arabia to protect oil facilities. The rest defend Attica and the Peloponnese. Transfer to Kyiv is practically excluded.
• S-300PMU-1 – located in Crete, formally transferred to Greece from Cyprus. The system is operational and serves as a strategic reserve. The transfer will require the consent of Cyprus and will violate the agreement with Moscow.
• Tor-M1 and Osa-AKM — short-range systems of Russian origin. Can be transferred under the “exchange for Western analogues” scheme. The probability is average.
• Crotale NG (France) – mobile short-range air defense. Transfer possible 2–3 installations with support from Paris.
• Stinger – portable air defense systems located in the reserves of the ground forces. The most realistic transfer option.

Context: diplomacy under the sign of fatigue

Since the disaster in Tempi and subsequent protests Domestic trust in the Mitsotakis government remains low. In such an atmosphere, additional military obligations to Ukraine are perceived by society as an unpopular step. However, it is important for the prime minister to maintain the image of a reliable partner in the EU, especially on the eve of the autumn summit.

The telephone conversation was yet another episode in a long series of diplomatic contacts between Athens and Kiev, with each side trying to make the most of limited political space.

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