M. Varvitsiotis: Sanctions against Russia are not intended to shoot us in the foot

“There is no question of co-exploitation of the Aegean,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis, speaking today on “Real FM 97.8”, and reiterated the firm Greek position that the continental shelf and the EEZ should be determined through joint action. Greece and Turkey at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. “There is no other way, and this is a firm position of Greece since 1975,” he stressed.

Commenting on the developments in Ukraine, the Deputy Minister pointed out that the government deals daily with the Greek community in Mariupol, gathering information and trying to restore the lines of communication. Regarding the developments in the field, he stressed that it seems that calm has been lost, with Russia targeting civilians, referring to the massacre in the city of Butsa, while regarding the sanctions, he stated that they do not intend to shoot the Europe and that their further expansion into the financial sector is being discussed.

Referring to President Putin’s demand for gas payments in rubles, Mr. Varvitsiotis said that it met with a reaction from Europe and that Russia could not threaten Europe by cutting off gas supplies, as the European market represents 70% of Russian exports and it is not easy to divert it in other directions, because there are no pipelines.