Mitsotakis: EU countries pledge to keep communication with Russia

European Union leaders confirmed their unity, their support of Ukraine's territorial integrity, and their determination to take joint action with NATO if there is an invasion of the country by Russia, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said following the conclusion of the informal summit of European Council members on the Ukraine on Thursday.

Speaking before the start of the two-day EU-African Union Summit, also in Brussels, Mitsotakis said that the EU leaders also confirmed their commitment to keep all communication channels with Russia open, whether at collective or bilateral levels. He noted that Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Moscow on Friday, and will reiterate Greece's - and, therefore, the EU's common - position on Ukraine. The premier added that Greece's concern for the area also relates to a sizable Greek community in the region. 

Referring to the EU-AU Summit, which seeks to strengthen political and economic ties between the two continents, the Greek leader aid that Greece has always had close ties with Africa, being a neighboring country. The opportunities for Greece, "a country without any colonial past, to expand its activity in the African continent, are extremely significant," he pointed out. 

PM Mitsotakis also said he would brief his colleagues on ongoing initiatives to link Africa and Europe in the energy sector, "especially the cable that will link Egypt with Greece and therefore Africa with Europe, in order to transfer very cheap electric energy produced by the sun in Africa to Europe."