K. Mitsotakis: Nobody expected Putin to decide to invade Ukraine

LAST UPDATE: 19:58

No one expected President Putin to decide to invade Ukraine, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in an interview with Alpha TV, referring to the war in Ukraine.

“We did not expect it because we are really in front of a new world. It is the undoing of the peace and security regime. We are talking about a new Cold War that no one knows how it will end. Putin has chosen to impose his own way of life. I’m referring to President Putin and not Russia because I believe that the majority of the Russian people did not want this war. Today Mariupol is under siege. There is a humanitarian catastrophe. “It’s absolutely imperative that hostilities end now. Russia is isolated in the world today. You saw the resolution at the UN,” he said.

Congratulations to the journalist covering this war. There was basic communication with the Russians that a convoy of cars was leaving. “This does not mean that tens of thousands of Ukrainians of Greek descent are not in danger,” he said in an interview with Alpha, referring to the war in Ukraine, relations with Russia and Greeks in the region.

“In this matter, Russia has chosen a tactic of violent bombing, which unfortunately will also mean civilians.

Greece does not currently have the highest level of communication with Russia. We did not want this war, the West, the EU, NATO did not want it. Putin chose him and he will pay the consequences and unfortunately the Russian people will pay for them. The sanctions are already bringing the Russian economy to its knees and will hurt the weakest.

The vast majority of Ukrainians of Greek descent chose to stay in their country. It applies to both Odessa and the area of ​​Mariupol. This will probably change once the area becomes a war zone. It is important to have a truce. “The urgency is to protect civilians,” he said.

It was morally correct and nationally imperative. “We did the right thing, like the vast majority of European countries,” he said in an interview, referring to the deployment of military defense equipment to Ukraine. “The EU has decided to provide defense material. With what morale would we ask for similar assistance if we were in a similar situation. We had a reason to be on the right side of history.

In this age of rationalism, arguments for demilitarization have no place.

These decisions are at the level of the Prime Minister. I do not consult. With the exception of KINAL, everyone else was in the yes but. There was a debate in parliament. I do not believe in the councils of political leaders. It is a discussion, which as it is organized, does not offer anything, said the Prime Minister

There is a list of people, Russian oligarchs, who are close to Putin. We will act accordingly for them. It does not apply to all potential investors. said the prime minister referring to the remaining sanctions against Russian investors and the attitude of Turkey in his interview with Alpha.

There will be consequences in tourism, in trade from this choice of the West to defend the values ​​of democracy, freedom and territorial integrity.

Turkey will reconsider the rhetoric of recent months towards us

Turkey is making a choice today. It is not my job to point out to her leadership how she will move. Revisionism, the promotion of imperial ambitions is not a popular policy today. I believe that Turkey will reconsider the rhetoric we have seen in recent months towards our country. There is no audience today for any revisionism, for any demilitarization. That’s why it’s important to be on the right side of history, with our allies. Absolutely not, there is no question of the involvement of our soldiers in this war.

If we are asked to send forces to neighboring countries, we will do so. We have not been asked. The foreign and defense policy of the country is justified. We have invested in our alliances with France. We strengthened the prestige of the homeland. We have made our country an energy hub and raised the issue of excluding defense spending first. “All these choices that the government has been criticized for have been justified in practice,” he said.

“There were very few of us talking about a European army. Germany, which has been persecuted in the past, came. Sweden, a neutral country, is sending defense equipment to Ukraine. The country does not intend to buy any defense systems from Russia.

I have said many times that a meeting between a Greek Prime Minister and the Turkish President should not be news. I believe that there will be a common mood to organize such a meeting. We are two countries that make up the south-eastern wing of NATO. It could be a trigger for lowering the tones. The rhetoric of revisionism is out of the international climate. Greece is a sovereign country with strong alliances. Did not Europe support us in Evros? It was a matter of violating borders. I picked up three phones and they came. We have seen full support for our policy and a change in Europe’s attitude towards guarding our external borders.

Open in a meeting with the Turkish President. Especially now. Spring will not come suddenly and we will have overcome our differences. We have issues to discuss. With Turkey, there is a positive agenda in the field of tourism, environment, said the Prime Minister, referring to Alpha on defense policy and the possibility of a meeting with Erdogan.

I will do my best to support households and businesses

Everyone understands that we are talking about an imported financial problem. Global problem and accuracy, global phenomenon. We will suffer consequences in Greece. I will do my best to support households and businesses. When we talk about this kind of disorder, we can not deal with it alone.

Subsidizing electricity bills primarily. We will continue to do so. And gas, said the prime minister, referring to the economy and energy issues.

“Policies to support disposable income will continue in all ways. ENFIA will be reduced from next month. There will definitely be another emergency support for our fellow citizens who are most in need.

Large fiscal impact, small reduction in excise duty on the final price of petrol. I prefer that everyone has a small benefit, to use this space for those who are most in need.

We also need a European line of defense. I do not know what form it will take. The crisis affects all European countries.

RES are one way. The faster, the better. We enable companies to connect photovoltaics. Gas has always been a transitional fuel. We will need gas. We will reduce our dependence on Russian. With LNG. This is the path we must follow and make Greece an energy hub. I had a conversation with an Egyptian president to install an electrical cable. Tomorrow we will be the gateway to Europe for hydrogen.

Lignite is still very expensive. It is not the solution to our problem. The demilitarization was to some extent initiated by the previous government. If we did not have any natural gas from Russia we would use lignite as a backup. “At the moment, lignite is not a solution to the problem and it is not a solution to electricity prices,” he said.