The E.U. is the largest financier of Ukraine, since after the unanimous approval of the new package of 50 billion euros for the years 2023-2027, total European aid has reached 185 billion euros just shy of the USA.
Of course, we should also add the separate support packages from EU member states where the 20 billion in financial aid by Germany stands out among the 185 billion total in financial aid where countries like Lithuania, Estonia, Norway, Latvia, Slovakia, Poland, the Netherlands and Finland all participate in proportion to their GDP.
Until April 2022, the protectorate of Greece was the 8th country in the world supporting Ukraine with weaponry.
Greece has given 260 million in military equipment up to that time and continues to do so without public knowledge of the exact number today since the government refuses to give detailed figures, completely stripping our country of defence. From January 2023 to January 2024, another 200 million was given, an amount corresponding to 0.09% of the country’s GDP, and in collaboration with the EU, a total of 200 billion euros has been given to supposedly strike and subdue Russia. In reality, the only ones irreparably affected are the EU and European citizens with the Russian economy in 2023 taking the 5th place in the world and the 12 sanction packages imposed by the EU proving to be a huge fiasco.
In reality for the Greek citizens, with increasing daily difficulties, having reached the limits of poverty, it is questionable as to why we made Russia an enemy on the one hand and why Greece got involved in international conflicts like the one in Ukraine.
At this moment, the priority of the Greek people is their survival. At the forefront should be the assurance of their safety though the government seems to clearly show its intentions for Greece’s future and that is to be sold off at a bargain price with all the country’s support going to Ukraine, leaving the citizens in second place.
Greece’s debt currently stands at around €386 billion (according to CEIC data). This represents approximately 161.9% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the year 2023.
In this context, it is unacceptable for our country to contribute militarily and economically to Ukraine, a country outside the European Union, while it has such serious issues to resolve internally.
This amount intended to support a country at war, raises serious questions about the priorities of our government.
Every year, Greece is destroyed by devastating fires, floods, etc., however, we have never seen a corresponding or at least lesser amount allocated to upgrade our infrastructure, prevent and protect our forest fires, or purchase fire engines and aircraft. These resources, critical to our nation’s security, are continually neglected. This is unacceptable!
Furthermore, no significant amount has been allocated to repay our public debt. This forces us to ask ourselves, who is really pulling the strings in Greece and the European Union?
Since 2010, our country has been under the strict surveillance of international lenders, and yet, the decisions taken do not seem to align with the interests of our people.
This situation is inexcusable.
We demand an immediate reassessment of our national priorities.
It is imperative that public resources are used primarily to build our resilience, protect our citizens and improve our infrastructure.
We also need to start an open and honest dialogue about managing our debt and the fiscal choices being made in our name.
It is time to make responsible and transparent decisions to ensure a prosperous and secure future for Greece. The status quo cannot continue. Let’s act now, before it’s too late.
Written by
Spyros Leftheriotis
Translated by
Themis Ioakimidis