Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing the Greek parliament, said that this country can help implement a humanitarian mission to save the residents of Mariupol.
"I urge you now to openly create such a new community of friends that can save Ukrainians and Greeks in the south of our state. Which will be able to help Mariupol. The city needs humanitarian aid, to save the survivors and the wounded from there. Russia has been blockading Mariupol since the beginning of March. On the ground and at sea. It does not allow elementary humanitarian cargoes to pass there. I am sure that the power of Greece can help realize this mission. We are counting in days," Zelensky said in a video message.
The head of state thanked Greece for the humanitarian and defense aid already provided to Ukraine and support for the overall sanctions policy against Russia, urging it to "do more to get Russia to start seeking peace."
"The war continues. The destruction of Mariupol continues. The deportation of people from those territories where the Russian military came continues ... What will be left after the Russian artillery and aerial bombs? I will tell you: they will destroy all our joint history, our joint heritage," he said.
Zelensky invited the Greek parliament to listen to two defenders of Mariupol who are ethnic Greeks. They spoke about the terrible situation in the place and also asked for help.
Speaking to the parliamentarians, Zelensky also mentioned possible Russian attempts to destroy Odesa, which is historically close to the Greeks as well.
"Russia may try to destroy Odesa, just as it did Mariupol. Today in Odessa the AFU is holding back Russian attacks ... We must save Odesa from the kind of destruction that Mariupol is facing," the president asked.
At the end of his speech, the head of state expressed confidence that all those responsible for war crimes will be brought to justice, Mariupol and other Ukrainian cities will be restored.
"I also believe that soon Ukraine and Greece will live as equals in our common home - the EU," he concluded.
