Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed in Athens on Thursday that the Ukrainian army is preparing for a counter-offensive against Russian troops.
The preparation includes training troops and assessing how “to provide the military equipment” of Ukraine’s allies, Reznikov told reporters at the end of a meeting with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Panagiotopoulos.
The minister did not mention any deadlines for the start of the counter-offensive and according to the secretary of the Defense and Security Council of Ukraine Oleksii Danylov, only a very small number of people know the details of the operation.
“The start date of certain military operations and military actions is only known to a very small circle”said Danylov, quoted by the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN.
Greek media reported that Oleksii Reznikov’s visit was to ask Greece for more military aid, but neither he nor Panagiotopoulos commented on the matter.
Reznikov limited himself to thanking Panagiotopoulos for the military equipment already sent, according to the Spanish agency EFE.
Before this meeting, Greece had made it clear that it would not supply Leopard tanks to Kiev, justifying that the country needs them for its defense strategy.
In late 2022, Athens sent 40 Soviet-made BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine, as part of a rotating agreement with Germany, which in turn sent 40 Marder tanks to Greece.
Reznikov said Ukraine plans to continue cooperation with Greece after the war started with the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022.
The Ukrainian minister explained that Greece could help Ukraine develop “its naval capabilities” given its vast experience in the nautical and maritime field.
Panagiotopoulos said Greece had complied with all sanctions against Russia, “despite the cost to the Greek economy”, and once again condemned the “vicious war” sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian war against Ukraine plunged Europe into what is considered the most serious security crisis since World War II (1939-1945).
The balance of civilian and military casualties is unknown, but several sources have admitted it will be high.
Source: DN
