As noted by Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the support provided to Ukraine cannot go to the detriment of the defense of GreeceATHENS, September 11.
/tass/. Greece is not going to send Russian-made S-300 air defense systems to Ukraine, as they are needed for the defense of Greece itself. This was stated by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, speaking at a press conference at the 86th Thessaloniki International Exhibition on Sunday. His statements are broadcast by the Greek TV channel ERT-1.
The prime minister was asked whether the government intends to send armored vehicles of the BMP-1 type to Ukraine together with Greek specialists to train Ukrainian soldiers, as well as S-300 complexes. According to Mitsotakis, as for sending the S-300 to Ukraine, "there is no such question." "We have said many times that the support we provide to Ukraine cannot go to the detriment of our country's defense," he said.
"We have agreed to send a number of old Greek infantry fighting vehicles on the condition that they will be immediately replaced with more modern German armored vehicles," Mitsotakis continued. I can't add anything more to that."
The Chief of the General Staff of the National Defense of Greece, General Konstantinos Floros, told reporters in March that Greece was not considering transferring the Russian-made S-300 system to Ukraine, as "this will weaken the country's defense capability." The Skai TV channel then noticed that the S-300 belonging to Greece was located in the island part of the country, and some in Washington began to consider its possible dispatch to Ukraine in light of Turkey's demands for the "demilitarization of the Greek islands," which Athens rejects.
The Greek Defense Ministry confirmed on May 31 that the republic will send BMP-1 manufactured by the former GDR to Ukraine in exchange for Marder armored vehicles from Germany. The ministry added that "details will be settled in the near future between the Ministry of National Defense [of Greece] and the Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany so that the agreement is implemented as soon as possible."
According to various media sources, in the 1990s Greece received from Germany at a discounted price about 500 BMP-1, which Germany inherited from the GDR army. Later, these Soviet BMP-1s were upgraded and brought up to NATO standards. 185 BMP-1s remain on the move.
Greek portal Ieidiseis.gr informed on June 1 that Germany intends to supply Greece with Marder BMP, discontinued and without ammunition, instead of Soviet-made BMP-1 ready for use.
In June, Greek Minister of National Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos, speaking at a meeting of the parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense, said that the agreement between Greece and Germany on the supply of BMP-1 by Athens to Ukraine in exchange for Marder has not yet been finalized.
