The European Commission on Friday expressed the European Union’s full solidarity with Greece after the Russian Foreign Ministry issued unprecedented threats on Thursday over Athens’ agreement with Ukraine to co-produce maritime drones.
“It is not surprising that Russia is resorting to threats,” Commission spokesperson Anita Harper said when asked by Kathimerini to comment on Thursday’s statements by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova regarding the Greece-Ukraine deal. “Of course, we are in complete solidarity with Greece,” she added.
Harper said the EU has seen “what Russia is capable of doing, and that is why we are with Ukraine.” She said Russia’s behavior includes “provocative” actions and “multiple hybrid threats” against EU member states. “So, that is why we are taking action as we did to strengthen our defense,” she said, adding that the EU has “the European defense readiness” and participates in supporting Ukraine while also reinforcing its own security.
When asked about the possible reasons for Moscow’s reaction toward Athens, Harper said, “It’s like asking a bully why he’s angry all the time. No, we can’t answer that. You have to ask them.”
Meanwhile, Athens responded immediately to Moscow after Zakharova’s comments on Greece’s agreement with Ukraine for the co-production of maritime drones. Diplomatic sources said Greece acts in its international relations with adherence to international law and respect for states.
The Greek sources also added that it is the self-evident right of every state to conclude interstate agreements, especially when agreements such as the one between Greece and Ukraine ensure energy sufficiency and security, which they said is essential for human well-being. They concluded by saying that threats against sovereign states are automatically rejected.
On Thursday, Zakharova accused Greece of “pursuing a provocative, confrontational policy toward Russia” and taking “frankly hostile actions,” saying Russia would give an appropriate response.