Mitsotakis on secret visit to Odessa - Meeting with Zelenski -Close call with ballistic missile

Yesterday's surprise visit of Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Odessa and the Russian missile attack relatively close to where the Greek delegation and President Zelensky were, reminded everyone that the war continues to rage.

“We heard some sirens and shortly after as we were going to our cars we heard a big explosion. For us it is the best reminder that there is a real war going on here. Every day. Which does not only affect the front", the Greek Prime Minister said a little while later, describing with "disgust the actions of Russia against Ukraine (…) which leads to the death of civilians, small children and even infants".

How members of the Greek delegation experienced the explosion in Odessa
Members of the Greek mission described the tension and concern that prevailed among them when they heard the explosion and saw the smoke from the strike on the horizon. They immediately boarded the cars and sped away from the port of Odessa, where the first stage of the visit had been completed, and changing the route for safety reasons, went to the next station within Odessa.

The sirens did not sound again, but the signs of war and the hits of the Russian missiles were evident in all the parts of the city visited by the Greek mission, such as the residential complex that was hit a few days ago, resulting in the loss of 12 lives, including children.

Mitsotakis's visit to Odessa is under the utmost secrecy
What happened during the approximately seven hours that Mr. Mitsotakis stayed in Odessa proves why the visit was organized under conditions of extreme secrecy. Despite the secure information about the trip from early Wednesday morning, the PM's office refused to confirm it for hours, and only after the news of the missile attack did it admit the presence of the prime minister in Ukraine. The meeting had been agreed upon in the last telephone conversation that Mr. Mitsotakis and Mr. Zelensky had at the end of January and then a suitable date was sought through diplomatic channels.

The message Mitsotakis will send today from Bucharest
The message that "all European leaders should come to Ukraine. Because it is one thing to see, to hear the description from the mass media or from President Zelensky, and it is completely different to experience the war firsthand" he is expected to send today from the floor of the conference of the European People's Party Mr. Mitsotakis in Bucharest.

The leaders of the European center-right were waiting with interest for the speech of the Greek prime minister, however, after the visit, this interest has become more intense. The continuation of European support to Ukraine and developments on the front with Russia are among the discussions that dominated yesterday's first day of the conference, as well as the leaders' dinner. Europe is finding its pace in an ever-changing geopolitical landscape and is looking for how to face the new challenges. Issues that will be raised with intensity on the way to the European elections.