Greek Solution leader Kyriakos Velopoulos has called on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to use Greece’s veto against EU sanctions on Russian energy. He argues that Washington is now buying Russian fuel while Greeks overpay.
Velopoulos made the comments in an interview with the Georgian outlet Georgian Times TV. The interview was published in Georgian, and the quotes below are translated by Greek City Times.
Asked whether Greece should seek “energy sovereignty”, Velopoulos answered: “Undoubtedly. Greece must decide for itself who it buys gas and oil from.”
He then pointed to Washington. “If even Trump believes that the United States can lower prices by getting oil from Russia, imagine how many billions Europe could save,” he said. In his view, Europe could do this by avoiding mark-ups, tariffs and transport costs and by receiving oil and gas “directly, through pipelines”.
Read more: Turkey to Receive Russian Diesel Under Deal with Trump
“We want the well-being of the Greek people and the peoples of Europe. That is exactly why the sanctions must be lifted immediately,” he said. “We remain faithful to the doctrine that there is no Europe without Russia.”
“He used the veto only for the shipowners”
Velopoulos also targeted Mitsotakis directly. He said the Prime Minister had used Greece’s veto “only in connection with the interests of shipowners”. According to Velopoulos, he had not used it so that Greek businesses and families could buy cheaper oil and gas from Russia.
“Just as he vetoed the sanctions against shipowners, he should also veto the sanctions that ultimately harm Greeks themselves,” he said. “Sanctions are imposed only on enemies, and for the United States, Russia is not an enemy. The enemy is Turkey.”
He has made similar arguments in Greece. In an interview with Libre on 17 October, he called the US diesel deal “vindication” of his party’s position since 2022. “Greece should not have imposed sanctions on Russia, with disastrous consequences for energy costs,” he said.
What the US actually allowed
The US decision Velopoulos cites is real, but it is narrower than a lifting of sanctions. On 9 October, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control issued General License 135. It authorises transactions linked to the sale, delivery and import of Russian-origin diesel until 7 April 2027.
According to Reuters, President Donald Trump announced the deal as part of efforts to bring down soaring diesel prices before the 3 November midterm elections.
The first cargo has a Greek link. The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes loaded 40,000 tonnes of diesel at Russia’s Baltic port of Primorsk on 22 October. Its manager, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime (EASTMED), told Reuters the discharge port had not yet been finalised.
However, the deal faces resistance in Washington. US Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote to EASTMED chief executive Thanasis Martinos on 27 October.
He demanded the ship turn back, arguing a 2022 US law still bans Russian oil imports.
Reports that seven tankers are already heading to the US could not be confirmed. Lloyd’s List reported on 26 October that Russia says three diesel cargoes are under way.
The EU picture and Greek pump prices
The EU has banned imports of Russian oil products since February 2023. In July, Greece held up the EU’s 21st sanctions package until it secured an exemption for shipping Russian LNG to non-EU clients. The request was backed by Greek shipowner George Prokopiou’s Dynagas.
That is the “veto for the shipowners” that Velopoulos refers to.
Meanwhile, fuel remains expensive for Greeks. On 27 October, diesel averaged €2.131 a litre nationwide, according to the Ministry of Development’s daily price bulletin. Unleaded 95 averaged €2.140.
EU sanctions decisions require the unanimous agreement of all 27 member states. That is what gives a single government’s veto its weight, as Athens showed in July.
Read more: EU freezes Russian oil price cap for a year, grants Greece LNG exemption in new sanctions
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