Following discussions between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Greece will send to Ukraine its East Germany made ΒΜΡ-1 infantry fighting vehicles so Germany can replace them with German-made Marder armed vehicles to an equal number.
The details will be settled in the immediate future between the Greek Ministry of National Defense and the Federal Ministry of Defense of Germany, in order for the agreement to be implemented as soon as possible, according to a ministry statement.
Meanwhile, opposition party SYRIZA demanded in a statement for "Immediate information about the armament that our country has sent and will send to Ukraine, as all European governments do, respecting their citizens."
"Just a few days after we were informed by the US Secretary of Defense about Mitsotakis' decision to send new, heavier weapons to Ukraine, we are now informed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Greece will send armoured vehicles to Ukraine.
"And in fact, armoured vehicles useful for the defence of the country, hence their replacement by other German armoured vehicles.
"We consider it unthinkable for the Greek people to learn this news from the German chancellor at a time when the Greek prime minister did not say a word in his own interview."
In general, SYRIZA claims that "the direct involvement of Greece in the war in Ukraine, which is dangerous for our national interests, is increasing with each passing week, at the same time as the tension on the part of Turkey is escalating."
"The Mitsotakis government must stop making secret decisions on critical national issues, especially since the majority of the Greek people are opposed to choices that pose risks to the security of the country and are contrary to our national interests."
For their part, the PASOK-KINAL alliance requested full information from the government on what the Mitsotakis agreed with Scholz on the delivery of armored vehicles to Ukraine.
The statement from the party's press office said: "As we have been informed by the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, the Greek Prime Minister has agreed to deliver Greek armoured vehicles to Ukraine, which will then be replaced by German ones."
"The government must inform the political parties about all aspects of this agreement, which Mr. Mitsotakis concealed during his statements to journalists, raising reasonable questions about the real content of the meeting with Mr. Scholz."
It is recalled that on April 13, Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said that Athens is not planning to send more military equipment to Ukraine.
He said Greece’s defence of its own territory should not be weakened, particularly on islands, by sending more weapons.
“The defence equipment we sent to Ukraine came from our stocks. There is no issue of sending more,” he told Greek lawmakers in a parliamentary discussion.
The Greek government has already sent to Ukraine two C-130 transport aircraft loaded with military aid, such as Kalashnikov rifles and portable rocket launchers.
According to the poll conducted by MEGA TV, 66% of Greeks disagree with sending military equipment to Ukraine, and 29% agree with the government’s decision.
Panagiotopoulos also referred to the relations with Turkey, saying, “This is not the best time to talk against Turkey in NATO because the allies want to ensure that Turkey remains attached to NATO”.
Greece reported on the same day as Panagiotopoulos' announcement that Turkish air fighters violated Athens’ airspace eleven times, overflying at very low altitudes above Greek islands, some of which were even inhabited.
Greece operates a vast arsenal of Soviet-made weaponry, with which Ukrainian forces are already familiar (contrary to most Western types of armament currently being delivered to Ukraine).
This includes S-300PMU-1, Tor-M1 and 9K33 Osa SAM systems in addition to multiple rocket launchers (MRLs), armored fighting vehicles (AFVs) and other equipment.
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