Greece will take part in training of Ukrainian air force pilots for F-16 jets, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says during a visit to the country.
Denmark and the Netherlands on Sunday announced they would supply the first F-16s to Ukraine.
“Today, we have the important result for aviation coalition. Greece will participate in training of our pilots for F-16. I am grateful for this proposal,” Zelenskiy said during a joint press-conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
He did not provide details of the training program.
Officials from a coalition of 11 countries have said F-16 training will take place in Denmark and Romania.
Earlier on Monday, Zelenskiy told a crowd in Denmark that promised deliveries of F-16s had made him confident Ukraine could end Russia’s invasion.
In Athens, Mitsotakis on Monday pledged to keep up military support for Ukraine for as long as it takes and help with post-war rebuilding.
Zelenskiy flew to the Greek capital for his fourth visit to a European capital in three days, and was scheduled to attend an informal meeting of Balkan leaders with top European Union officials later in the day.
In statements following talks with Zelenskiy, Mitsotakis voiced full support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and condemned Russian “war crimes”.
He pledged to “stay on the side of the government and the heroic people” of Ukraine, “however much time may be required to achieve that sacred target”.
He also said Greece would participate in the “titanic” reconstruction project in Ukraine when the fighting is over.
In comments translated into Greek, Zelenskiy said he outlined to Mitsotakis Ukraine’s priorities in the war and highlighted the contribution of Greek shipping companies to Ukrainian grain exports.
Zelenskiy and Mitsotakis also signed a joint declaration on Greece supporting Ukraine’s NATO accession “when allies agree and conditions are met”.
He later met with Greece’s figurehead president, Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
In the evening, Zelenskiy was to join an informal dinner organised by Mitsotakis for top officials from nine Balkan countries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Charles Michel, Mitsotakis’ office said.
The dinner was scheduled to discuss the western Balkans region’s future in the EU, which many countries have already joined and the rest are jockeying to enter.
Greece has joined its NATO and EU partners in strongly backing Ukraine against the Russian invasion and has provided military assistance in the form of armoured personnel carriers and ammunition.
But Greece has resisted pressure to provide Ukraine with a Russian-made air defence missile system stationed on the southern island of Crete.
*with AP
