*Athanasios Tsakalos

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine will make an official visit to Cyprus today Friday, as his Cypriot counterpart, Michalis Georgallas, had previously announced.

Particularly, Mr. Georgallas had reported to RIK that the Ukrainian Minister, who visited Greece earlier, expressed his will to visit the island and added that he himself will present to his Ukrainian counterpart the actions taken by Nicosia in terms of humanitarian assistance to Kyiv.

Also read: Ministry of Defence | After Greece, Cyprus also sends military equipment to Ukraine

Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, is visiting the Republic of Cyprus this morning. The agenda will most likely include the issue of giving Russian equipment to the National Guard to strengthen the Ukrainian forces resisting the invasion of Russia.

Also read: BMP-3 | National Guard’s Russian-made IFV and first conclusions from the Ukraine war – Photos & VIDEO

Russian-made weapon systems in the National Guard arsenal that could be used by Ukrainian forces (but are obviously needed by the National Guard at the moment) include the TOR M1 and Buk M1-2 self-propelled anti-aircraft systems, the BMP-3 Armored Fighting Vehicles and the T-80U Main Battle Tanks.

Also read: BUK M1-2 “The spearhead of the Cyprus Air Defence” | VIDEO

Specifically, the Ukrainian Minister shall meet at the Ministry of Defence with his Cypriot counterpart, Michalis Georgallas. The meeting will not be open to the press and the officials will not make any statements.

Also read: TOR M1 | The reliable SHORAD of the National Guard

Kyiv is trying to convince countries of the West and the former Eastern bloc to give their Russian weapons to the Ukrainian Armed Forces to counter the Russian invasion, since the Ukrainian Forces are familiar with their use.

Also read: T-80U | 25 Years of service in the National Guard and its upgrade options – Infographics & VIDEO

According to information from ANT1, in a telephone conversation, he had on January 12 last year with the former President of the Republic, Nikos Anastasiadis, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, once again requested the concession of Russian weapon systems that the National Guard has in its arsenal.

Nicosia’s response

Nicosia, for its part, has repeatedly declared that it does not intend to provide any systems considered important for the defence of the island as such a move will impact the deterrent capabilities of the National Guard.

Με @npanagioto και @nhardalias στην επίσκεψη του Υπουργού Άμυνας της 🇺🇦 @oleksiireznikov στο @Hellenic_MOD

Συζητήσαμε για :

-Kατάσταση στην Oυκρανία
-Αλληλεγγύη 🇬🇷 και συνέχιση υποστήριξης των αμυντικών δυνατοτήτων της#StandWithUkraine️ pic.twitter.com/RYrxuRevQu

— GEN Konstantinos Floros (@ChiefHNDGS) April 6, 2023

Yesterday the Ukrainian Defence Minister was in Athens, where he met with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, and with the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General, Konstantinos Floros. Both officials discussed the situation in Ukraine, Greek solidarity and Greece’s ongoing support for Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Ukraine’s constant request is for Greece to give its S 300 anti-aircraft squadrons, which the Republic of Cyprus bought from Russia and were finally stationed in Crete in December 1998.

In fact, relevant pressure was exerted in Athens and from Washington, with the Greek government rejecting the specific proposals so far.

It is noted that Greece supplied Ukraine with BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, rifles, rockets and artillery shells. In return, the Hellenic Armed Forces received the German-made Marder vehicles.

Also read: Germany | Sends squadron of Patriot missiles and Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine