Athens has delivered an official demarche to Kyiv over the armed and unmanned sea drone found in Greek territorial waters, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lana Zochiou announced while briefing diplomatic correspondents on Wednesday. She said the protest was delivered in both verbal and written form, on Thursday, May 28, and Friday, May 29.
According to the protest note, “the unmanned surface vessel detected in Greek territorial waters posed a serious risk to maritime traffic and could have caused casualties among innocent civilians. It could also have caused incalculable environmental damage.”
The note further stressed that transferring military operations into the Mediterranean, far from the war’s actual front, endangers Greece’s national security and dealt a severe blow to its economy, Zochiou stated.
Athens also conveyed the message to Kyiv that “Ukraine’s right to self-defense cannot justify actions of this kind.”
“Greece expresses its strong opposition to the unlawful presence of the armed unmanned surface vessel in Greek territorial waters and calls on Ukraine to refrain from similar actions in the future and from the unjustified transfer of military operations into the Mediterranean,” Zochiou said.
She explained that Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis took several steps after the ministry received the report from the official investigation into the surface drone. In addition to informing the EU High Representative of its findings, he also communicated with the Secretary General of NATO, and raised the issue directly with his Ukrainian counterpart, on the sidelines of the Gymnich meeting in Limassol.
In other parts of the briefing, Zochiou referred to events in Lebanon and the emergency meeting at the UN Security Council on June 1, requested among others by Greece, saying:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses deep concern regarding the ongoing clashes within Lebanon. The recent capture of the strategic Beaufort Castle and the surrounding ridge marks a dangerous and unprecedented escalation.
“We call for the universal application of international law, an immediate cessation of hostilities, and renewed efforts toward a sustainable diplomatic settlement. The full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701 and strict adherence to all ceasefire commitments by all parties remain essential.”
Zochiou said that Greece supports the continuation of direct talks between Israel and Lebanon in Washington and urges the parties to “engage constructively and in good faith, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire agreement that can contribute to sustainable peace in the region.”
She noted that the latest military developments in southern Lebanon risk causing further displacement and worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis.
“Greece supports the stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon,” she emphasized, adding that Athens has already organized a national humanitarian aid mission to Beirut and is planning additional assistance. Greece is also finalizing a significant financial contribution through the World Health Organization to strengthen Lebanon’s healthcare sector, specifically Saint George Hospital in Beirut, she added.
She also noted Greece’s continued support for the efforts of President Aoun and the Lebanese government, urging all parties to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue at this critical moment and to take concrete steps toward de-escalation.
“Lebanon deserves a future of peace, security, and dignity, and Greece will stand by its side in this effort,” she said.
Zochiou then announced that the foreign minister will receive Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, June 8, for talks on cooperation, Greece’s practical support for the Patriarchate, and the preservation of Christian presence and heritage.
“Recently, Greece, in cooperation with the Patriarchate, has promoted various initiatives in Jerusalem and throughout its jurisdiction, focusing on the Patriarchate and the Holy Sites. Greece remains committed to supporting the Patriarchate. The issue of Christian presence in Jerusalem and the Middle East remains of crucial importance,” she said.
Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (“Gymnich”)
Regarding the informal EU Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Limassol, she said Gerapetritis exchanged views with his European partners and counterparts from India and Saudi Arabia on various issues of common interest.
Discussions focused on developments in the broader Middle East and the effects of the war on freedom of navigation, as well as visible global consequences for shipping, energy, trade, and supply chains.
“We look forward to the continuation of the ceasefire and the prevention of further escalation. We emphasize the need to support diplomacy as the necessary path toward sustainable peace,” Zochiou said, while stressing that dependencies in strategic sectors such as defense production, energy, and supply chains can make countries vulnerable.
“The transition toward strategic autonomy, while maintaining Europe’s strong geopolitical role in the world, is an essential requirement,” she added.
Concern Over Incidents in Zvërnec, Albania
Commenting on a recent incident in Zvërnec, a region in neighboring Albania, in which a Greek citizen was injured in clashes that occurred during a protest by residents over property rights, she noted that the Greek foreignh ministry expressed “strong concern” and that the Greek Embassy in Tirana “took all necessary actions to ensure consular and medical assistance and made representations to the Albanian authorities, requesting a full investigation and accountability.”
She also emphasized, however, that the integration of the Western Balkans into the European Union remains a strategic priority. Greece, as the oldest EU member in the region, continues to support the European perspective of the Western Balkans based on merit, conditionality, respect for the rule of law, international law, and good-neighborly relations.
She added that Greece stresses the need for full respect for the rule of law, including the protection of the rights and property of members of the Greek national minority, as well as the effective protection of environmentally protected areas, in line with the EU acquis.
As part of Greece’s initiative to promote the European perspective of the Western Balkans, the Foreign Minister will visit Serbia on June 12 and Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro on June 19. The main objective of these visits is to reaffirm Greece’s support for the European path of the Western Balkans, encourage progress on reforms, and provide expertise in areas of mutual interest, she said.
During the briefing, Zochiou also referred to the talks with Libya, announcing that Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandra Papadopoulou will travel to Tripoli on June 10 for a round of technical talks on maritime delimitation between Greece and Libya, which she described as a priority for Greece.
She added that Greece and Libya, as states with opposite coastlines, agreed to continue talks on delimiting their Exclusive Economic Zones based on the International Law of the Sea.
On relations with Panama, she announced that Gerapetritis will host Panama’s Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, during the Panamanian President’s visit to Athens.
She noted that relations between Greece and Panama have gained positive momentum in recent years, particularly following the opening of the Greek Embassy in Panama in 2023, with both countries attaching importance to maritime security and free and safe navigation.
Responding to questions about media reports concerning a proposed Turkish “Blue Homeland” bill, Zochiou noted that no official position has been stated by Turkiye but Athens has prepared for “every possible scenario” and will act once it has official information.
She clarified that there has been no direct communication between the two foreign ministers on the issue, but stressed that “channels of communication remain open at all levels within the framework of good-neighborly relations.”
Zochiou also announced that Deputy Foreign Minister Papadopoulou will participate in the EU Foreign Affairs Council on June 15 and the General Affairs Council on June 16 in Luxembourg, Deputy Foreign Minister Haris Theoharis will visit Erbil and Sulaymaniyah in Iraq on June 5-7 for bilateral meetings with representatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government, while Deputy Foreign Minister Giannis Loverdos will visit Berlin and Dresden from June 14-17 for meetings with Greek diaspora organizations.
