Greece denies transfer of Patriot missiles to Ukraine amid tensions
Greece denies media reports suggesting the transfer of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine. From Kyiv's perspective, these systems are among the most valuable weapons, which also prove indispensable for Athens.
On May 4, "The New York Times" reported that the chances of receiving additional Patriot missile systems for Ukraine are increasing, with expectations they might come from Israel, Germany, or Greece. However, the latter option cannot be confirmed.
Greece will not send Patriot systems to Ukraine
"There is no question of supplying Ukraine with Patriot systems from Greece," Reuters reported, citing a representative of the Greek government.
The same source claims that the issue of sending this weapon to Ukraine is not even being discussed in Greece, as the Patriot is considered essential for the country's security.
One of the most notable features of the Patriot system is its effectiveness and ability to counter challenging targets, such as ballistic and hypersonic missiles. In Ukraine, the Patriot has proven effective against Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missiles, often referred to as "Putin's superweapon". These missiles travel at hypersonic speeds (over 6,100 km/h), posing a formidable challenge for other anti-aircraft systems available to the Ukrainian army.
A quiet ally of Kyiv
Greece is a country supporting Ukraine on many levels, including through transfers of weapons and ammunition. However, the Ukrainian UNITED24 Media service notes that Athens often acts with caution in this regard, carrying out transfers without media publicity to avoid escalating tensions with Russia. Reluctance to provide assistance in the form of air defence systems may, however, be due to the relations between Athens and Ankara. Both countries are competing for dominance in the Mediterranean region and heavily arming their militaries, including their air forces.
From Ukraine's perspective, important elements in Greek warehouses include not only modern equipment (such as the Patriot) but also older, Soviet-era weapons. Greece is one of the few NATO countries possessing Soviet-era anti-aircraft and anti-missile systems (S-300, Osa-AK/AKM, and Tor-M1), which are valuable to the Ukrainian army as it has similar systems in its ranks.
So far, Greece has provided Ukraine with 122 mm caliber missiles used by Ukrainians in Soviet-era artillery. Additionally, they have sent BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, FIM-92 Stinger man-portable air-defence systems, RPG-18 anti-tank grenade launchers, and M114A1 howitzers to the front lines.
