Athens cannot compromise its defense capabilities, says defense minister
Greece formally rejected a US proposal to supply Ukraine with additional Russian-made weapon systems, media reports said Wednesday.
Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos gave an indirect but negative response to the proposal brought by visiting US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, according to Greek newspaper, Kathimerini.
Panagiotopoulos said Greece cannot compromise its defense capabilities, said the daily.
The newspaper asserted March 17 that the country was approached by the US through informal channels to provide Ukraine with Russian-made air defense systems, including short-range TOR M-1 and OSA-AK surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which Greece possesses.
The Russia-Ukraine war, which started Feb. 24, has drawn international outrage, with Western countries and their allies implementing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.
At least 1,480 civilians have been killed in Ukraine and 2,195 injured, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be far higher.
More than 4.24 million Ukrainians have also fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.
