Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on European leaders to take urgent action in response to shifting U.S. policy on Ukraine, warning that the continent must not fall behind on geopolitical and economic matters.
Speaking at a business conference in Thessaloniki on Wednesday, Mitsotakis stressed that recent developments—particularly former U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticisms of Ukraine’s handling of the war—should serve as a wake-up call for Europe.
Trump, in remarks at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday, questioned how Ukraine had used billions of dollars in aid provided by the U.S. and NATO. He claimed Washington had spent over $300 billion in support, while Europe’s contributions remained significantly lower.
Mitsotakis expressed concern that Europe had been in a state of “geopolitical and economic lethargy” for too long and needed to respond decisively. He emphasized that a shifting stance from the United States means European nations must now move swiftly to adapt to new realities.
“The different view of things from the United States now obliges nations in the region to face the truth, move at a very high speed, and implement decisions on deliberations,” he said.
Since returning to power, Trump has consistently maintained that Europe must shoulder more responsibility for Ukraine, arguing that the conflict directly affects European security. His administration has initiated diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the war, with special envoy Keith Kellogg leading negotiations. However, Trump has made it clear that Washington will reduce financial support for Ukraine.
With the U.S. scaling back its involvement, the pressure is mounting on European nations to step up their commitments and shape the future of the region’s security landscape.