Greece has expressed its interest in restoring diplomatic relations with Russia, while reaffirming its principled support for Ukraine amid ongoing tensions.
At a recent briefing, Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zochiou responded to comments made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, noting that Greece’s stance is based on the principle of respecting territorial integrity. She added that relations with Russia were satisfactory until 2022, before being disrupted by the onset of Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine.
“We take into account what the Russian Foreign Minister has said, but our aim is to maintain good relations with Russia and restore ties in the future when circumstances permit,” Zochiou said.
Lavrov, commenting last week, criticized Greece for halting decades of cooperation with Russia, spanning politics, economics, culture, and humanitarian initiatives. He also accused Greek diplomacy of making “hostile anti-Russian statements” and “unfounded Russophobic accusations.”
Despite these tensions, Greece maintains that its support for Ukraine reflects a matter of principle, leaving open the possibility of rebuilding its relationship with Moscow under favorable conditions.
