The Deputy Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Hardalias, attended the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, held in Ramstein, Germany, representing the Minister of National Defence, Mr. Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos, and Greece, to discuss the current developments in Ukraine.

The meeting, which was convened and hosted by the US Secretary of Defence, Mr. Lloyd Austin, was attended by Defence Ministers and Deputy Ministers, as well as by senior officers of NATO member-states and partners.

In the context of the Group works, special emphasis was placed on the provision of military equipment, on Ukrainian Armed Forces’ military personnel training, as well as on the cooperation between defence industries to meet armament needs.

In his address, the Deputy Minister of National Defence stressed that the uncalled for Russian invasion to Ukraine, which has been early on condemned by our country, constitutes a blatant violation of International Law.

Mr. Hardalias highlighted the significant humanitarian and military assistance provided by our country to Ukraine, such as ammunition and other defence material, as well as the implementation of the Agreement on the delivery of BMP-1 armoured fighting vehicles to Ukraine.

He also stressed that Greece will keep on supporting Ukraine and the heroic struggle of the Ukrainian people to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country.

In the margins of the meeting, the Deputy Minister of National Defence also met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence of Poland, Mariusz Błaszczak, and the Defence Minister of Canada, Ms. Anita Anand, of Ukraine, Mr. Oleksii Reznikov, of Estonia, Mr. Hanno Pevkur, of Romania, Mr. Angel Tîlvă, of Finland, Mr. Mikko Savola and of Bulgaria, Mr. Dimitar Stoyanov, as well as with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army General Mark Milley.

He also met with the incoming Defence Minister of Germany, Mr. Boris Pistorius, and congratulated him on his new role.

Prior to the beginning of the works of the Group, Mr. Hardalias also met with the members of the Armed Forces, currently serving at the NATO Allied Air Command – AIRCOM at Ramstein Air Base. He was welcomed by the most senior Officer of the Greek mission, Col (Pilot), Andreas Archontakis.

The Deputy Minister of National Defence was accompanied by the Ambassador ad hon., H.E. Mr. Eleftherios Aggelopoulos, and by HNDGS/ C Branch Director, Major General (Pilot), Christos Tellidis.