Zelenskyy in the Greek parliament: we do not need new Thermopylae, save Mariupol

"Evropeyska Pravda" — THURSDAY, 7 APRIL 2022, 14:59

President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Greece to prevent the destruction of Mariupol and to save the wounded and survivors there.

Zelenskyy made this statement during a speech in the Greek parliament on Thursday, "Evropeyska Pravda" reports.

In his speech, Zelenskyy stressed historical ties between Ukraine and Greece, calling for immediate assistance to Mariupol.

"The city needs humanitarian aid! The city needs to save its people - the survivors and the wounded. Russia has been blockading Mariupol since early March, blocking land and sea. It does not allow even basic humanitarian aid in. I am convinced that Greek forces can help carry out this mission. It is a matter of days", Zelensky said.

He asked Greece to use its influence and opportunities as a member of the European Union to save Mariupol and its defenders from Russian aggression.

"They will destroy our entire common history, our common heritage. And we will not be able to be content with what we will say about Mariupol in the future: "This is the new Thermopylae" (Battle of Thermopylae - ed), said the president.

Zelenskyy called for cutting off all Russian banks from the global financial system, closing ports to Russian ships, and not supporting Russian tankers that provide Russia with a constant stream of money for assassinations.

The President asked to provide Ukraine with weapons - air defence systems, artillery systems and shells, armoured vehicles and other weapons - to force Russian troops to leave our country. 

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said on Thursday that Athens would ask the International Court of Justice in The Hague to investigate war crimes in besieged Mariupol.

Dendias headed a humanitarian aid mission to Odesa over the weekend.