The tanks could now be delivered to Greece.
(Photo: dpa)
Brussels As compensation for the delivery of Soviet-made weapons to the Ukraine, Greece is to receive German armored personnel carriers. Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced this on Tuesday after talks with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on the sidelines of the EU summit in Brussels. “This will now be discussed in detail between the defense ministries and can then be implemented quickly.”
What has already been agreed with the Czech Republic is planned for Greece, said Scholz. The Czech Republic is to receive 15 Leopard 2 tanks from industrial stocks for the supply of Soviet-designed tanks to Ukraine. Scholz gave no details of the ring exchange planned with Greece.
However, the Greek armed forces have Soviet-type BMP-1 armored personnel carriers. For this they could receive German armored personnel carriers of the Marder type. Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said in the Greek parliament in mid-May that his country would only supply heavy weapons to Ukraine if they were immediately replaced by similar weapons systems from NATO partners.
Among other things, it was about air defense systems, such as those used by Ukraine. Athens’ reluctance is justified by the current numerous threats from Turkey and constant overflights of Turkish fighter bombers over numerous inhabited Greek islands such as Lesbos, Chios and Rhodes. So far, Greece has only sent rifles and rocket-propelled grenades, ammunition and medical supplies to Ukraine.
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Scholz emphasized that he had also spoken to the Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki about exchanging rings. “We both want to achieve this in good, best cooperation,” he said. A few days ago, Poland’s President Andrzej Duda accused the German government of not having replaced the tanks delivered from Poland to Ukraine. “You haven’t lived up to that promise,” he said. The federal government had reacted with irritation to this accusation of breach of word.
More: “Government is looking for excuses” – military experts criticize Scholz for handling arms deliveries