Greece is ready to begin talks with Turkey within the international law, provided that Ankara immediately withdraws its warships and seismic research vessels from the Greek continental shelf, Kathimerini reported referring to Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos.

Panagiotopoulos said this during a phone talk with his German counterpart Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

According to the same report, Panagiotopoulos highlighted the role of the European Union and the German Presidency in helping to restore security and stability in the region.

EU defense ministers will meet informally in Berlin on 26 August.