Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday landed in Athens for an official go to, the Greek prime minister’s workplace mentioned, and would later be a part of an off-the-cuff dinner with EU and Balkans leaders.

Greece has been a robust supporter of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion, offering humanitarian support and weapons together with infantry preventing automobiles, Kalashnikov assault rifles, launchers and ammunition.

“The agenda is all that we can do together to protect human life and freedom in our common European home,” Zelensky mentioned in a Telegram message previous to the conferences.

“Every day we add strength to our state, our soldiers and our cooperation with partners,” he mentioned.

The Ukrainian president is concluding a European tour with earlier stops in Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark.

Denmark and the Netherlands have mentioned they would supply American F-16 jets to strengthen Kyiv’s Soviet-era air drive, because it pursues a grinding counteroffensive towards Russian forces.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is assembly with Balkan leaders by means of Tuesday, and can host an off-the-cuff dinner Monday night with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council chief Charles Michel additionally attending.

The different individuals are the presidents of Serbia, Moldova, Montenegro and Romania, the prime ministers of Kosovo, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and Croatia, and the chairwoman of the council of ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mitsotakis’ workplace mentioned in an announcement.

The Greek PM’s workplace mentioned the gathering marks the 20th anniversary of a 2003 Thessaloniki summit confirming the European perspective of Western Balkan states.

A traditionally Russian ally certain by centuries of custom and a shared Orthodox Christian religion, Greece below Mitsotakis has shifted and unequivocally condemned Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

Last 12 months it expelled a dozen members of Russia’s diplomatic and consular missions, and is internet hosting 1000’s of Ukrainians and their households.

In April, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov visited the Greek capital for talks together with his then counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

Reznikov on the time mentioned Ukraine after the conflict would search Greek help in de-mining the Sea of Azov, and growing the nation’s naval forces.

Greece has additionally provided to rebuild the maternity hospital in Mariupol that was shelled final 12 months.

In April 2022, Zelensky gave a televised speech at a particular session of Greek parliament to request help for Mariupol and Odessa, two Ukrainian cities which have had massive ethnic Greek populations for hundreds of years.

The session noticed a uncommon attendance by the Greek head of state President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and Zelensky was given a standing ovation by Greek ministers and MPs.

The Greek communists and a small nationalist occasion boycotted the occasion.

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