The Ukrainian Defence Minister arrived in Athens, his first visit to a foreign country. Oleksii Reznikov is expected to meet with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, as well as with other members of the Greek government.

His trip was kept top secret by Kyiv, for security reasons. Competent sources refused to confirm the information until this morning. With him in Athens is a large multi-member delegation.

According to sources, talks will focus on the military reinforcement of Ukraine. Greece has Leopard tanks and the S-300PMU1 anti-aircraft missile systems.

In early June 2022 Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos was unambiguous when he stressed that his country would not transfer its long-range Russian S-300 air defense missile systems stored on the island of Crete to Ukraine.

“We will not provide anti-aircraft missiles from our islands or anti-ship missiles, no matter how much they ask us to do so, because we face a real threat,” he said.

“Greece will not be sending the S-300 weapons system,” he emphasised. “What we need, what is useful, and mainly operationally active, we do not intend to release.”