Greek Defense Minister promised full support to his Ukrainian counterpart

National Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos met today with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov as part of his official visit to Greece. In addition to what was decided at the level of requests and how the Greek side will cover them, the participation of the Hellas Navy was heard for the first time, since Kyiv chose Greece to strengthen in this area.

The government of K. Mitsotakis is determined to send arms, especially now that it is “raising” the question of a new Greek-Turkish “friendship”. We’ll probably see a few episodes like “what to do with so many weapons”. The result is that Greece is likely to send the rest of the Soviet BMP-1s to Ukraine without waiting for the Marders promised as replacements, and also an unknown amount of artillery ammunition.

It should be noted that, in addition to armored infantry fighting vehicles, Osa-AK, S-300 and TOR M1 anti-aircraft systems, weapons systems that the Armed Forces of Ukraine need and are in service with the Greek army, the Ukrainian minister asked for help for naval operations and strengthening the armed forces of the Ukrainian Navy on the example of mine clearance.

Greece has reportedly promised additional supplies of ammunition for artillery and small arms, access to Greek hospitals for wounded military personnel, and additional infantry fighting vehicles.

As for the air defense system, a few days earlier, Greece announced that it would not send Osa-AK, S-300 and TOR M1 to Ukraine, however, after the US proposal for the supply of helicopters black hawk in exchange for the above equipment in Athens, they thought …

Military officials said Greece also provided trainers to Ukrainian special forces and tank operators as part of a massive military aid run by the United States and its allies.

The talks were attended by Deputy Minister of National Defense Nikos Hardalias, Commander of the General Defense Forces General Konstantinos Floros, Chief of the General Staff Vice Admiral (i) Themistocles Burolias, Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Angelos Khudeloudis, Chief of the General Staff Vice Admiral Ioannis Drimousis P. N., Ukrainian Ambassador to Athens Sergiy Shutenko, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Mr. Denis Sharapov, as well as numerous delegations from both sides.

In his statements, Nikos Panagiotopoulos said among other things:

“It is a special honor and pleasure for me to welcome you to Greece today, at the Ministry of National Defense. During our meeting, we expressed our firm intention to work together to strengthen our bilateral defense cooperation. I also reaffirmed our firm and unshakable position in support of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine and their fundamental right to defend their homeland, restore the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their country. From the very beginning of this brutal and unprovoked war against Ukraine, Greece condemned Russian aggression unequivocally and from the first day was on the side of Ukraine and its brave defenders. We have complied with all the sanctions imposed on the invader, despite the fact that they cost our economy dearly.”

For his part, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov said:

“I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the people and government of the Hellenic Republic for the support and systems they have provided to Ukraine to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country within our internationally recognized borders.

The first support package we received came probably 2-3 days after this invasion started. It was a humanitarian aid package and we needed it for our people who were trying to survive in the midst of this aggressive war, and the support we needed in arms, military, economic, humanitarian, political. Our refugees also found shelter here, tens of thousands of Ukrainians, women with children and grandchildren are here, and we thank your people and country for your support.

And I know the position of my colleague, the minister, that Ukraine has extensive experience in how to restrain the Russians, how to defeat them using NATO weapons. So this is a good reason to invite Ukraine to the NATO Alliance and join this alliance.

During our meeting, we discussed the current situation at the front, in the area of ​​the Black and Azov Seas, I described to my colleagues the situation in the areas of Bakhmut, Andievka, Ugledar, Maryinka and other areas. Briefly described the course of our preparations for the counterattack, especially in terms of training our military, and, of course, how we will provide our forces with new weapons from our partners – infantry fighting vehicles, tanks, artillery systems, etc.”

From the commentary of the famous Greek journalist Dimitris Constantakopoulos on the website Kosmodromio:”Defense Minister of the Zelensky regime Alexei Reznikov is in Athens and is already meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Panagiotopoulos. This is the regime that integrated into the Ukrainian armed forces the neo-Nazi Azov militia, that is, the Ukrainian descendants and admirers of the Waffen-SS, responsible for the worst crimes of World War II, including the massacres in Distomo and Kalavryta.
The government wanted the visit not to take place in the midst of the pre-election period, as the vast majority of citizens, according to polls, are against sending weapons and further involving Greece in the Ukrainian conflict. However, the Athenian government was not given such an opportunity by foreign powers, which, apparently, suffocate it. Directly or indirectly, in one way or another, this is happening today to almost everyone in Greece, an addiction that has long ago nullified in essence, and not on paper, the result of the Greek Revolution of 1821.

PS It is worth noting the choice of the date of the visit, which symbolically began on the first day of Nazi Germany’s invasion of Greece in 1941. That’s a coincidence? Don’t think…

Photo courtesy of the Greek Ministry of Defense.

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