Greece will not compromise its defense, a spokesperson says in response to the FT report

Greece has responded to a report in the Financial Times suggesting that the government in Athens is facing significant pressure to supply air defense systems to Ukraine, clarifying that no action will be taken that could jeopardize the country’s deterrent capacity.

“We have already provided tangible assistance to Ukraine and its people. However, it must be emphasized that no action will be taken – and I emphasize this – that could even remotely endanger our country’s deterrence capabilities or air defense,” government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis told a news conference on Monday.

“We have consistently refuted such claims in the past, and I strongly reiterate our position today,” he added.

According to the FT report published earlier on Monday, European leaders personally urged Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez to supply the systems to Ukraine at a summit in Brussels last week.

The two leaders, whose forces jointly possess more than a dozen Patriot systems, along with other assets such as S-300s, were reportedly told that their own needs were not as urgent as those of Ukraine and that they were not currently facing any immediate threats were confronted.

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