Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday that Athens will try to keep channels of communication open with Ankara despite Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's recent unacceptable statements, Reuters reported.

Earlier, Erdogan accused Greece of "occupying demilitarized islands" in the Aegean Sea and said Turkey was ready to "do whatever is necessary" when the time comes.

"I find the Turkish president's recent statements unacceptable," Mitsotakis said at a news conference in the northern city of Thessaloniki. "However, we will always try to keep channels of communication open," he said, adding that he was always ready to meet with Erdogan.

Relations between Greece and Turkey have always been tense. The situation has escalated since 1974, when Ankara's invasion brought the northern part of Cyprus under Turkish control.

Tensions flared up again in 2020, when Ankara explored gas fields off the coast of Cyprus.

Since then, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has regularly voiced threats against Greece.