Greece’s Position on the Russian-Ukrainian War
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Abstract
The evolution of Greece’s position on the Russian-Ukrainian war is analyzed and the main directions of political, military, humanitarian and diplomatic support for Ukraine from Athens are identified. It is found that Greek foreign policy is based on the principles of international law, solidarity with democratic states and the desire to ensure stability in the Southern Balkans and Eastern Mediterranean region. Ukrainian-Greek relations have a long history and are based on strong historical, cultural and spiritual ties. It is established that since the beginning of Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2014, Greece has taken a clear position in favor of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. The impact of Russian propaganda on Greece is analyzed. It was determined that the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, in particular the barbaric destruction of the city of Mariupol together with its inhabitants in the spring of 2022 and the destruction of many Greek settlements in the Donbas, played a significant role in changing Greece’s position on the Russian-Ukrainian war.
It was established that in the context of the protracted Russian-Ukrainian war, the weakening of transatlantic security ties as a result of the activities of the current D. Trump administration and the constant threat from Turkey, Greece has planned a radical renewal and modernization of the armed forces for 25 billion euros, which will be spent over the next 10 years. The priorities of the said plan will be the development of long-range missile systems on autonomous mobile platforms, the use of artificial intelligence algorithms, unmanned technologies and new control systems, and the improvement of anti-missile, anti-air and anti-drone defense systems. The participation of Greece in the Ramstein format, in the programs of the European Union and NATO, as well as the significance of the signing of the Agreement on Security Cooperation between Ukraine and Greece in 2024, is revealed. The conclusion is made that the position of Athens combines a principled commitment to democratic values with a pragmatic consideration of regional and security interests.
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References
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