The prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said that European leaders have not been formally briefed on talks between US and Russian officials about a possible plan to end the war in Ukraine, pointing out that some parts of the proposed plan are “problematic, especially regarding the concession of territory from Ukraine”.
Talking to his editorial director Bloomberg News, John Micklethwait, at the New Economy Forum in Singapore, Mr Mitsotakis said that “we have made it absolutely clear that there can be no deal without Ukraine” and added “and of course, Europeans must be part of any discussion regarding future security arrangements in Europe”.
The publication recalls that, according to a 28-point peace plan put on the table by the American and Russian sides, Ukraine would be asked to cede large parts of territory occupied by Russia, put a “ceiling” on the size of its armed forces and gradually lift sanctions against Moscow. The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has reportedly stated that he is considering the plan, but there are no indications that he is ready to accept the specific conditions.
For the Chinese presence in Greece
Mr. Mitsotakis was also asked about the possibility of American pressure on Greece regarding the Chinese presence in critical port infrastructure, as part of Washington’s effort to limit Beijing’s international influence. The prime minister replied that Athens seeks balance in its relations with the two great powers.
“I think we can find a way to fully cooperate with the Americans, and we want to do that,” he said. “We have already signed agreements that prove that we can form win-win arrangements, without in the process challenging investments that have been made in the past and whose structure must be respected.”
The report notes that the US is pressuring countries such as Panama and Australia to regain control of port infrastructure from Chinese companies. In the Greek case, China’s state-owned Cosco Shipping acquired a 67% stake in PPA SA in 2016, at a time when Greece was in a deep debt crisis and the privatization of the port of Piraeus was included in the required reforms of the country’s creditors.
“Agreements made by previous governments must be respected,” noted the prime minister.
Asked by John Micklethwaite about Trump’s preferences for authoritarian leaders like Erdogan, the Prime Minister emphasized that the relationship with the US is strong as it is a strategic partner. “It shows that we can work together effectively as in energy. I believe that the goal with Turkey is to find a way to discuss the Law of the Sea without tension. My responsibility is to strengthen the defense capabilities of the country. We have a deterrent stance against any country that could threaten our defense.
Watch video, the entire interview of the Prime Minister:
“Greece has achieved a remarkable comeback”
Referring to the course of the Greek economy, Mr. Mitsotakis appeared optimistic for the next 18 months, linking the country’s recovery to a broader trend of Southern Europe outperforming traditional EU economic powers.
“Greece has achieved in recent years what I consider a remarkable comeback,” he said. “We have proven that the Greek crisis belongs to the past.” He recalled that the Greek economy is outperforming most European economies, that the country records fiscal surpluses and that all major rating agencies have returned Greece to investment grade status, citing fiscal discipline.
“Some solutions are European, but the difficult reforms are the national responsibility of each state. We have a stable government, we have a majority in Parliament, our elections will be held in 2027 and the ruling party is ahead by several points. I am optimistic about the performance of the Greek economy. We have problems with the cost of living, but we have delivered on our commitments and the new budget will be passed with relief measures that address accuracy. Unlike other governments, our performance allows us to take support measures without forgetting that we were forced to impose difficult reforms such as in the pension system”, said Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The prime minister also noted that Southern Europe, including Greece, is currently performing better than countries such as Germany and France, while at the political level he underlined that the Greek case shows that the “centrist space” can remain dominant, in a period of rise of the European extreme right.
At the same time, he warned that, despite the improvement in Greek indicators, the country’s progress remains closely linked to the state of the continent’s largest economies. “If Germany and France are not doing well, that will inevitably affect the Greek economy as well,” he said.