After Poland and the Czech Republic, Germany has also agreed to exchange armored rings with Greece in favor of Ukraine. For deliveries of Soviet models, Athens is to receive an infantry fighting vehicle that has been decommissioned in this country.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has announced a tank ring exchange with Greece in favor of Ukraine. "We will make German infantry fighting vehicles available," Scholz said after the end of the EU summit in Brussels. Scholz said he spoke to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis about an agreement based on the planned exchange of rings with the Czech Republic. Talks with Poland about an exchange of rings are also to be advanced.
Scholz had already announced a ring exchange with the Czech Republic at the beginning of the month. Germany wants to deliver 14 Leopard 2 A4 main battle tanks and a Leopard 2-based recovery vehicle to the Czech Republic - as compensation for the fact that the Czechs are delivering a total of 20 Soviet T-72 main battle tanks to Ukraine. However, there is no date for delivery yet.
A planned exchange of rings with Poland has also been delayed. The country has already delivered its own device to Ukraine and is to receive a replacement from Germany. Polish President Andrzej Duda accused Berlin of not keeping the promises.
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. The "Marder" has been decommissioned by the Bundeswehr and will be replaced by the "Puma".
The aim is to support Ukraine with weapons from the stocks of the former Warsaw Pact, said Scholz. Mitsotakis published a photo on Twitter showing him shaking hands with Scholz. He wrote that he spoke to the chancellor about supporting Ukraine, without giving any details.
Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said in 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.
The federal government has declared its willingness to deliver heavy weapons to Ukraine, but has been criticized by both Ukraine and the opposition for being too hesitant to implement it.
