The U.S. is demanding that Greece provide Ukraine with weapons, in particular Soviet S-300 air defense systems, some air defense systems and armored vehicles. In return, Athens wants to compensate for the systems on the islands of Lesvos, Chios and Rhodes to counter the threat of Turkey. The Turkish edition of Rudaw reports about it.
According to the Greek media, the U.S. asked Greece to send Ukraine S-300, air defense systems OSA-AK and TOR M-1, as well as armored vehicles such as BMP-1.
Earlier in March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked the US Congress to provide Ukraine with S-300s. Greece did not take this issue favorably, the newspaper notes. During the visit of U.S. Undersecretary of State Victoria Nuland to Athens in early April, Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panayiotopoulos said that Greece "cannot contribute to the reduction of its defense capabilities.
Citing anonymous sources in the Greek defense ministry, the media noted that Athens pointed to threats from Turkey and constant flights by Turkish warplanes over the Greek islands during a conversation with the United States.
Greece, according to media reports, responded that it could supply Ukraine "only if the US or other NATO countries urgently compensate the systems located on such islands as Lesbos, Chios and Rhodes." The issue came up again on the eve of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' visit to the United States.
