Georgia Skitzi (ERT): Mr. Prime Minister, I would like you to tell us what is the outcome of today’s discussions on Ukraine, in terms of the framework of support, obviously, after the parallel talks that are taking place and are ongoing between the United States and Ukraine, the United States and Russia, and whether Greece will participate and in what way in this framework of support.
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: The common ground of today’s discussions is that we need to reach a ceasefire as soon as possible.
As we know, Ukraine has accepted in principle such a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, but unfortunately Russia has still not accepted it.
Therefore, all pressure at the moment must be put on Russia to stop the military attacks on Ukraine, particularly on critical infrastructure, so that we can reach this initial ceasefire and then have more time for Ukraine to negotiate a just and sustainable peace.
Beyond that, the issue of security guarantees, which other countries may be able to provide to Ukraine, was also discussed. The common ground and position of the Greek government is that the strongest security guarantee for Ukraine is the strengthening of the Armed Forces of Ukraine itself. And I believe that all the countries that participated in today’s meeting agreed in this direction.
Greece is not one of the countries that are ready to send troops to Ukraine as part of a “coalition of the willing”, and I also think that this whole debate may be a little bit divisive and not allow us to focus on the main thing, which is none other than how we can get the war to end sooner. And that can only be done through an initial ceasefire.
Georgia Skitzi (ERT): And if I may, because defence is in the spotlight, both at the European level and at the national level, can you give us a hint regarding the upcoming announcements that you are going to make next week in Parliament on this very issue, on defence?
Kyriakos Mitsotakis: We will have the opportunity, next week in Parliament, to present more details on the country’s new armaments programme, but also to place this debate in the context of the major geopolitical changes that are currently taking place on our planet.
However, we will also have the opportunity in the next few days to present an important initiative, and that is the new pay scale and the new grading system for the Armed Forces. The relevant announcements will be made in the next few days by the Minister responsible.
What I can say is that, in agreement with the Ministry of Finance, we will be able to give our servicemen and women significant new increases, increases which are largely financed by the savings made by the Ministry of Defence itself, within the framework of the new structure of the forces.
It is not enough just to buy the most modern weapons and give our Armed Forces access to the most modern technological equipment, we need to make sure that the members of the Armed Forces are properly remunerated, so that we can attract young people to the Armed Forces. And obviously, a total overhaul of the pay scale and the grading system are moving exactly in that direction.
However, I won’t say more today, you’ll have to wait for the Minister’s detailed announcements in the coming days.
