On Thursday morning, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis spoke to Bloomberg about the ongoing peace efforts in Ukraine, the need for fiscal flexibility in defense spending, the possibility of a trade war between Europe and the U.S., and the situation in Santorini.

Ukraine and European Security

Referring to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments on Volodymyr Zelensky, Mitsotakis stated, “There can be no solution in Ukraine without Ukraine,” emphasizing that “there can be no security agreement in Europe without Europe.”

He reiterated his longstanding position that “Europe must take responsibility for its own security issues.”

“It’s time to move from words to actions. We need to spend more on European defense without deficit restrictions. We should also consider the issue of a European missile defense shield,” he added.

Mitsotakis acknowledged Europe’s “awakening” in terms of defense and admitted that Trump “was right when he said Europe is not spending enough on defense.”

Fiscal Flexibility and Defense Spending

The Greek Prime Minister stressed the need for fiscal flexibility, stating, “This decision can be made at the next European Council meeting in March.”

“Even the frugal countries now recognize the need for emergency measures on this issue,” he noted, adding that he expects “concrete results in the conclusions of the next summit. We have no time to lose.”

Regarding the source of defense funding, Mitsotakis clarified that “the money should not come solely from national budgets but through a combination of European and national resources.”

Transatlantic Relations and Trade Concerns

Mitsotakis reaffirmed his commitment to the Euro-Atlantic alliance, acknowledging that “our American friends sometimes express themselves differently, but when they say we need to do more for European security, they are right.”

He also supported the idea of Europe appointing a “special EU envoy for discussions with the U.S., someone with authority and credibility.”

When asked about the potential for a trade war between the U.S. and Europe, he stated, “We do not want a trade war, but if necessary, Europe must respond.”

“If unilateral tariffs are imposed, Europe must react. However, I am cautiously optimistic that this scenario will not happen,” he added.

Santorini and Earthquake Activity

Finally, when asked about recent seismic activity in Santorini, Mitsotakis reassured that “we have seen a decline in seismic activity.” He emphasized, “Greece is a safe country, and this is the message I want to send. No one can predict the future, but we are cautiously optimistic that Santorini will soon return to normal.”