The Director-General of the General Directorate of National Defence Policy and International Relations (GDNDPIR) of the Hellenic Ministry of National Defence, Ambassador a.h. Michel Spinellis, participated in the informal EU Defence Policy Directors’ Meeting held in Nicosia on 28 April 2026.

In the first part of the meeting, which focused on military support to Ukraine, discussions addressed the EU’s contribution to security guarantees for Kyiv. Additionally, there was an update on the latest developments regarding the implementation of the Ukraine Support Loan and the use of windfall profits from frozen Russian assets under the European Peace Facility (EPF). At the start of this working session, the First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Mr Serhii Boyev, initially participated via teleconference and briefed the Directors of Defence Policy on the situation in the field, along with his country’s most urgent needs.

During the second session, European officials shared their perspectives on operationalising the conclusions of the European Council Meeting in March, including updating the common perception of the threats and challenges facing the European Union.

The meeting concluded with an exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East and its implications for European defence and security. In particular, the Directors of Defence Policy discussed the consequences of conflicts in the wider Middle East region for European countries, as well as associated threats, challenges, and opportunities. Finally, they considered the naval operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES and the necessity of bolstering its resources.