ATHENS: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Greece is willing to train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets and help reconstruct Odesa city, badly affected by Russian attacks, AFP reported on Monday.
He made the remarks during a joint press conference with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Athens.
He said Greece will participate in the training of Ukrainian pilots for F-16.
President Zelensky is in Greece to attend an informal meeting of Balkan leaders with European Union (EU) officials.
Soon after arrival in Athens, Zelensky met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and is also expected to meet President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
Greek officials said Zelensky would attend an informal dinner organized by Mitsotakis for top officials of nine Balkan states and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council head Charles Michel.
Zelensky visits athens to attend Balkan leaders’ meeting
The leaders during the dinner are expected to discuss the future of Western Balkans countries in EU.
Greece has supported Ukraine against war with Russia along with NATO and EU partners. Greece has also provided military assistance to Ukraine through armoured personnel carriers and ammunition.
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Zelensky, before reaching Greece, visited Denmark, where he thanked Parliamentarians for helping his country against Russia.
On Sunday, Denmark and the Netherlands vowed to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets that could be handed over to Kyiv by the end of the year.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously indicated that Moscow would view the F-16s as a potential “nuclear” threat due to their capacity to carry atomic weapons.
