Greek FM Dendias: Lavrov's position is that Russia will not invade Ukraine

"Returning from Moscow yesterday, I brought with me the direct position of my colleague, Mr. Sergey Lavrov, that Russia is not going to invade Ukraine," said Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias amid growing predictions in the West that a Russian invasion is imminent.

"I think I would like to keep this straightforward position of the Russian side, because anything that is a different approach will create a huge mess," the Greek foreign minister added.

In an online speech at a conference organised by the Glafkos Clerides Institute and the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies on the Future of Europe, Dendias referred to the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.

He said that as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis highlight, "we will all be losers."

The foreign minister explained how a major country like Russia in the 21st century should objectively be a part of the European security architecture.

Dendias stressed that Europe reaches the Urals, deep into Russia's interior.

He made these comments in the context of meeting with his Russian counterpart on Friday.

During the joint press conference with Lavrov on January 18, the Foreign Minister stressed that Greece supports the Minsk agreements, while emphasising that in a possible conflict in Ukraine there will be no winner.

“We listen to Russian concerns about its security, we take into account the concerns of others,” Dendias said, stressing that all problems must be resolved “on the basis of a dialogue conducted under the terms of international law.”

Initially, Dendias stressed the need for immediate de-escalation, while noting that “we, Greece, fully support the Minsk agreements.”

Finally, as Greece’s top diplomat said, “I also spoke about the Greek community, especially in Ukraine and the wider Mariupol area near the contact line.”

“The Mitsotakis government is committed to doing what is necessary to protect the Greek community that has been there for many centuries,” the foreign minister continued.

“A conflict in Ukraine will have no winner,” he added.

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