Greece is ready to transfer S-300 to Ukraine if the US deploys Patriot air defense systems in Crete

Nikolaos Nikolaos PanagiotopoulosNikolaos Panagiotopoulos, Greek Defense Minister, said that Athens could transfer S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine if the United States deploys its Patriot air defense systems in Crete instead.

At a meeting at the Greek Ministry of Defense, Mr. Panagiotopoulos said, quotes edition Pronews.gr:

“If the United States installs a Patriot system on the island (Crete) and after it is integrated – connected to the national air defense system, then the S-300 can be removed. The same procedure applies to any other Russian-made air defense system that they may want to send to Ukraine”.

From the statement of the Minister of Defense it follows that in the case of providing American Patriots, Greece can also send to Ukraine other Russian-made air defense systems – Tor-M1 and Osa-AKM. Pronews.gr draws attention to the fact that Nikolaos Panagiotopoulos was not talking about buying the systems, but about installing them by the United States, “which means that the Patriot system will be under the control of the Americans.”

Not so long ago, in September, our publication reported that Greece was not going to send to Ukraine, the Russian-made S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems and other weapons that it needs for its defense.

This was stated by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at a press conference in Thessaloniki.

When asked whether the government intends to send armored vehicles to Ukraine, as well as Greek special forces to train Ukrainian soldiers and S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems, the prime minister replied: “This is not a question. We have said many times that the support we provided to Ukraine should not come at the expense of the country’s defense.”