Greece–Ukraine_relations
Greece–Ukraine relations
Bilateral relations
Greece and Ukraine have deep ties due to Orthodox Christianity and enjoy strong diplomatic relations, due to Greece’s active diplomatic support for Ukraine over the Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation.[1] Greece is also one of the main supporters of Ukraine’s entry into the European Union and NATO.[2] Greece recognized Ukraine on December 31, 1991. Both countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. Greece opened an embassy in Kyiv in 1993, general-consulates were set up in Mariupol and Odesa. Ukraine has opened an embassy in Athens and since April 2004 a general-consulate in Thessaloniki.[3] Both countries are full members of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation. There is a large Greek community living in Ukraine (mostly in the southern and eastern regions of the nation). Ukraine was first settled by the Greeks as early as 500 B.C. The Ukrainian city of Odesa (among others) was founded by ancient Greek colonists, being also the place where the Filiki Eteria secret organization was founded. Greece is a member of the European Union, which Ukraine applied for in 2022.
