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Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis told Fox News Digital in an interview that he believes Europe should take the lead on Ukraine’s security guarantees.
Gerapetritis, who was in the U.S. to meet with his U.S. counterpart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said the most important order of business was to “stop the hostilities.”
“The day after will give the opportunity for considerations about reconstruction and about the security guarantees,” he said.
“We are the neighbors, and we have to take the responsibility for these,” Gerapetritis went on. “We need backing up from the United States, it’s important that the United States remain, involved, but, of course, Europe should have the major stake.”
EUROPEAN LEADERS ON EDGE AS PROSPECT LOOMS OF TRUMP PULLING 20K TROOPS FROM CONTINENT
President Donald Trump, right, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy verbally sparred in the Oval Office Friday during the beginning of talks for peace negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. (AP Photo/ Mystyslav Chernov)
The interview took place Friday just as a high-tempered spat in the Oval Office broke out and peace negotiations were brought to an abrupt halt when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeatedly brought up the need for the U.S. to offer Ukraine security guarantees to stop a future Russian attack.
President Donald Trump and his administration have insisted that it must be Europe who commits to Ukraine’s defense if Russia were to invade again, but Zelenskyy has insisted European security guarantees are pointless without the U.S.
However, Trump officials have told Zelenskyy to read between the lines on the proposed mineral deal: if the U.S. has major financial interests in Ukraine, it will not allow a war with Russia to threaten them.
Zelenskyy, after being escorted out of the White House on Friday following his spat with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, said Sunday he would still be willing to sign the mineral deal.
Gerapetritis boasted that Greece…
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