The Prime Minister of Greece is warning Europe about America's stance on Ukraine.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged Europe to wake up and build its own defense policy following a dramatic shift in the United States' stance on Ukraine and recent geopolitical developments. At a business conference in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, Mitsotakis contemplated a series of recent changes in U.S. policy.
This week, U.S. President Donald Trump upended the country's policy on the Ukraine war by denouncing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a dictator and suggesting that Kyiv had incited the three-year conflict with Russia. Trump warned Zelenskyy to secure peace quickly, otherwise he could lose his country, which has raised tensions with European officials.
The U.S. and Russia's peace talks in Saudi Arabia this week without Ukraine added to the complexity and left Kyiv and its European allies in shock. Ukraine has made it clear that it will not accept a deal imposed on it without its consent, a sentiment shared by European leaders, while Russia has ruled out conceding land it has gained.
Mitsotakis stressed the importance of Europe waking up from its geopolitical and economic lethargy, which it has unfortunately fallen victim to for some time. He said, “Recent developments and this different view of things from the United States now oblige us not only to face the truth, but to move at a very high speed and implement decisions that we have been discussing for long.”
The Greek leader pointed to the necessity for Europe to establish its own defense policy, allowing the continent to develop its own deterrent power and reduce its reliance on the United States.
The virtual meeting convened by France with European leaders and Canada to discuss the situation in Ukraine led to his comments.
Despite Europe relying heavily on U.S. military power within NATO for security for years, Trump has consistently requested that Europe increase its defense spending. Europe has been asked by the former U.S. president to contribute more military strength to any future peace deal in Ukraine. Experts warn that Europe would be stretched to meet these demands without U.S. help.
