Ukrainian soldiers on BMP. File photoATHENA, Jun 1Greece is sending to Ukraine obsolete and outdated armored personnel carriers that are 40-50 years old, which are not needed by the Greek armed forces, and will receive new modern German armored vehicles in return, Greek government spokesman Yannis Ikonomou said in an interview with Skai TV channel. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Tuesday at a briefing after EU summit that Greece will transfer Soviet-style tanks to Ukraine, Berlin will provide Athens with its armored vehicles to replace it. According to Scholz, he agreed on this with the Greek Prime Minister at a meeting in Brussels. This caused a scandal, as Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, at a press conference after the summit, hid the decision to send armored vehicles to Ukraine. Greek political parties demanded an explanation why the government is hiding the shipment of weapons to Ukraine and is supplying in violation of national law. They said that Greece was dangerously drawn into the conflict in Ukraine. The Greek Ministry of National Defense confirmed the agreement with Germany late on Tuesday. «This decision is part of the country's main choice to be on the side of Ukraine. The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense decided to send not only humanitarian aid, but also defense materials. Everything we sent to Ukraine so far is part of this solution. First of all, this is in line with the principles of our foreign policy and what everyone in Europe is doing. And secondly, we are sending to Ukraine everything that the Greek armed forces do not need. Everything, what we send, what is potentially usable but outdated, is being replaced with more modern weapons,» Iconomou said.Ukraine's dreams have come true: Europe will give her a lot of money. In debt» In this particular case, these are armored infantry vehicles, the country received in 1992. Their age is 40-50 years. In fact, they do not work. They are suitable for Ukraine, because they have spare parts and they can use them. And the Germans will replace them with new modern ones, three or four generations ahead. Thus, we have a favorable situation for the country,» Ikonomu said. According to him, the transfer of weapons to Ukraine does not in any way reduce the operational capabilities of the Greek armed forces, «but only increases them.» Responding to political parties, Ikonomou said that there is no special procedure for informing political leaders and the sending of weapons «does not require any new institutional procedure» .
Marines of the 18th battalion of the Ukrainian Navy complained about criminal orders»The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defense has made a long-term decision. Everyone who wants to be informed will obviously be informed by the Ministry of Defense,» Iconoma said. On February 27, Greece sent via Poland to Ukraine 40 tons of «defense» equipment on two S-130 aircraft. After that, the Greek government stated several times that it did not plan to send new batches of weapons to Ukraine so as not to weaken its defense. The Greeks for the second time learn from foreign politicians that Greece is sending weapons to Ukraine. Prior to this, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on May 23, that many countries have announced new deliveries of critical artillery systems and ammunition, «including Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland.» Following a request from the parties, Greek National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos acknowledged the new shipment of «defense equipment» to Ukraine. Opposition parties called the shipment of armored vehicles a dangerous development and drawing Greece into the conflict in Ukraine. /47609e9f507e1ec1cab4189c5a6629f4.jpg» />Germany will supply Kyiv with the IRIS-T air defense system
