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The participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Athens has eclipsed the informal meeting called by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis with leaders of the region and the European Union.
The meeting comes on the anniversary of the signing of the Thessaloniki Declaration for the integration of all the countries of the region into the European Union, but this time Albania was absent.
For several days, official Athens has been issuing threats to Albania, making support for European integration conditional on the "Beleri" case.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received President Zelensky at "Maximos Palace" and then both appeared before the media. He said that Greece stands by the Ukrainians.
"We unequivocally condemn war crimes. Russia has used natural gas as a weapon and recently cut the grain deal. The consequences of the war go beyond the borders of our continent. More than 50% of the grain is exported by Greek ships. Greece is implementing all sanctions against Russia and we will support your European course," he said.
The Greek Prime Minister announced that the Port of Alexandroupolis will soon be a new natural gas gateway for Europe. President Volodymyr Zelensky put the rhetoric behind him and made it a priority to help Greece train Ukrainian pilots to fly US F-16 jets. Earlier during visits to the Netherlands and Denmark, he secured at least 61 F-16 fighter jets.
The Ukrainian President is on an official visit to Athens and after the meeting with the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, he attended the dinner of the Balkan leaders.
Meanwhile, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, gave messages of unity from Athens. She held brief meetings with the participating leaders and then said on social media that the European bloc should bring the candidate countries much closer and faster.
"We need to bring our friends, the aspiring members to the EU much closer to us and much faster. I am glad to be in Athens to discuss the European perspective of our neighbors and partners in the East and the Western Balkans. We will continue to break down the barriers between our regions.”
This unofficial meeting in Athens also brings together the prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, and the Serbian president, Aleksandër Vucic, despite their recent rhetoric and tensions in the north of Kosovo.
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