The war crisis in Ukraine and its consequences for Greece

The impact of the war crisis on the Ukraine is to be investigated today, Tuesday, by the country's political leadership. Under the procedure of «announcements and statements by the government before Parliament», as outlined in Rule 142A of the Rules of Procedure, the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will brief the House at 11.00 on the crisis in Ukraine and its consequences for Greece, followed by the statements of the political leaders.

The debate is expected to be dominated, apart from the results of the negotiations in Belarus, by the opposition parties' objections to the shipment of defence equipment.

«We hope and pray that responsibility and prudence will prevail so that we can all face this unprecedented challenge together, on the right side of history. With prudence and determination, with unity and of course with national self-confidence,» the government spokesman said. Yannis Oikonomou, during yesterday's briefing of political editors and foreign press correspondents. The government spokesman stressed that Greece must be clear and unyielding in the face of acts that constitute a violation of international treaties, the International Law, against Russia's invasion of Ukraine and that means not just condemning the invasion but practical and active support for the people of Ukraine and therefore the sending of defence equipment and humanitarian aid «is fully aligned with the decisions of the entire Western world, the EU and NATO». Mr. Economou also stressed that the decisions were taken «in an appropriate manner, following the authorization given by the KYSEA to the relevant ministers, within the framework of each minister's responsibilities for sending aid.».

«There must be unanimous and clear condemnation of the invasion and the violation of international law that is currently taking place in Ukraine,» said the spokesman for SYRIZA - Progressive Alliance, Nassos Iliopoulos, speaking yesterday on «SKAI» and added that «we must clearly support Ukraine so that the invasion can end quickly. We need Greece to assist with humanitarian aid and support the refugees.» Nassos Iliopoulos who also underlined that «we are in a region in need, for all the reasons of the world, uphold international law and oppose any revisionist efforts», stressed however that «sending military material is a dangerous move and can create problems», noting that «not all countries are in our geographical position and not all face the risks we face».

Nikos Androulakis, President of PASOK - Movement for Change, described the decision of the Greek government to send defence material to Ukraine as correct, as it is part of a relevant European decision, he stressed. Speaking yesterday to his party's parliamentary group, he accused members of the opposition of being in league with the Greek far-right on the Ukrainian issue, and the Prime Minister for not informing any political leader on the issue of sending aid. That is why he called for the immediate convening of the Council of Political Leaders, describing national understanding as a one-way street.

Androulakis also said that «the decision to use the European mechanism for peace and the common market - transfer of military equipment and supplies worth a total of 500 million euros to Ukraine is a European decision in the right direction».

After describing Russia's invasion of Ukraine as «illegal and absolutely reprehensible», he stressed that the whole planet has crossed the threshold of a different era since last Wednesday, and accused V.V. Putin that, on the basis of military power, he is promoting a new revisionist doctrine, also that he is violating every concept of international law. «Our thoughts are with the Ukrainian people as well as the numerous Greeks», who already count 12 victims, N. Androulakis said.

«The government of the Southwest, by sending military material to Ukraine under NATO guidelines, is upgrading the country's involvement in an imperialist war. which is evolving with unpredictable dimensions and with great dangers for the peoples», has warned the KKE and has pointed out that «the armed forces of the country have no business outside the borders, nor can Greek territories, infrastructure and means be used as military - military bridgeheads, as is the case with the military bases in Alexandroupolis and Stefanovikeio».

«The government assumes enormous responsibility for our country's participation in the war and for the great dangers that may arise for the Greek people. Here and now it must stop all participation and involvement», the KKE has underlined.

«At a time when the Greeks of Ukraine are in danger of being massacred by the warring sides, already mourning civilian expatriates in the greater area of Mariupol, the government has decided to send war material to the Zelenski government,» said the Greek Solution and stressed that «the government in these critical moments, should have as a top priority the protection of the Greek natives of Eastern Ukraine. Greece should take the lead in the effort for an immediate cessation of hostilities and mediate in order to find a diplomatic solution.. Instead, the government chooses direct, unilateral involvement in a war conflict, exposing our expatriates to danger, while dividing the Greek people. Allowing Erdogan and Turkey to appear as a «peacemaker» instead of apologizing for its ongoing crimes against Greece and Cyprus.».

A letter to the President of SYRIZA-PS, Alexis Tsipras and the Secretary General of the KKE, Dimitris Koutsoubas, was sent by the secretary of the MP25, Yanis Varoufakis, calling for coordination of anti-war actions between the three parties.. «The Russian invasion of Ukraine confronts us with two interconnected responsibilities»: «to defend a people that accepts the brutal invasion of the troops of the Putin regime» and «to prevent the threat to Greece posed by the Mitsotakis government's choice to do what Washington and NATO dictate», Yanis Varoufakis says, and in this context, he proposes the coordination of anti-war actions in a «dual direction»: «Immediate end of the war and withdrawal of Russian troops within the framework of an international agreement that will allow the people of the country to live freely in an Independent, Neutral, Democratic Ukraine’ and «removal of US bases from Greece, which make our country and our people the target of foreign powers, without contributing anything to the defence of the country from real external threats».