Greek PM: Russia Blackmail over Natural Gas Makes Europe Cooperation Urgent

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis stressed that all European countries must cooperate and stand against Russian blackmail over natural gas.

The statements came during an event to mark the start of implementing the floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in Alexandroupolis.

Greece and Bulgaria announced that a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility will be built off the northern Greek port of Alexandroupolis. The two affirmed that this project would help create a new gas route for Europe and cut reliance on Russian gas at a crucial moment.

"Our countries all together are ready to assume a new crucial role in Europe's new energy map," the Greek Prime Minister said. "Recent blackmails by Moscow over natural gas make this cooperation not only necessary but urgent."

European Council President Charles Michel and the leaders of Bulgaria, Serbia and North Macedonia attended the ceremony.

Greece has been supplying Bulgaria with gas since it was cut off by Russia.

"The economic blackmail of the Kremlin against my country and the European Union will not succeed, because we will oppose it and today's event is proof of that," Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov noted.

Moscow has stopped supplying its gas to what it called “unfriendly countries” unless they pay in roubles as a result of heavy sanctions on Russia after it invaded Ukraine.