Mitsotakis: Athens will not hand over Patriot to Ukraine if it threatens its own security

Mitsotakis: Athens will not hand over Patriot to Ukraine if it threatens its own security
Mitsotakis: Athens will not hand over Patriot to Ukraine if it threatens its own security

Athens maintains defensive readiness

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis commented on the issue of potentially transferring additional missiles for Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. He emphasised that, despite its support for Kyiv, Athens has no intention of weakening its own protection system at the expense of its reserves.

Balance between aid and own security

According to the head of the Greek government, the country has already provided Ukraine with substantial air defence systems from its stockpiles. However, further assistance must be provided in a way that does not undermine Greece's own defence capabilities.

«Ви знаєте, що ми підтримали Україну, надавши значні засоби протиповітряної оборони з наших запасів. Водночас хочу бути цілком відвертим: ми робитимемо все можливе, щоб підтримати Україну, не підриваючи при цьому обороноздатності Греції. Ми також перебуваємо в чутливому з погляду безпеки регіоні, маємо й інші зобов’язання, але ми стоїмо на боці України й завжди намагаємося зробити все можливе» (You know that we have supported Ukraine by providing significant air defence means from our stockpiles. At the same time, I want to be completely frank: we will do everything possible to support Ukraine without undermining Greece's defence capabilities. We are also in a security-sensitive region, we have other obligations, but we stand on the side of Ukraine and always try to do everything possible), Mitsotakis noted.

Reaction to questions about specific requests

While answering journalists' questions, the Prime Minister was also asked whether Ukraine had approached Athens with a request to transfer Patriot missiles. Kyriakos Mitsotakis declined to comment on this issue publicly.

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