BERLIN – A swap arrangement in which Greece would send 40 Soviet-era BMP- Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine in exchange for 40 German Marder IFV’s will see Ukraine benefiting first before Greece gets the vehicles later.

The German newspaper BILD said the government plans to deliver 40 Marder IFV’s to Ukraine by the end of March to fend off the ongoing invasion by Russia and that Greece would accept a later deliver of Marders in return, a high-ranking Greek military official not named said.

“Greece’s defense capabilities will not be affected if the delivery of the Marders is delayed,” the military source reportedly said although Greece is under growing provocations from Turkey, which has even threatened an invasion.

In September, 2021, Greece and Germany agreed on the exchange which would see Ukraine first get Greece’s Soviet IFV’s, and on Jan. 6 this year the White House reported that the US was to supply Bradley IFVs to Ukraine as well.

Greece’s New Democracy government, however, has held up sending Russian S-300 missile defense systems to Ukraine as it promised because Russia objected and said under the terms by which they were acquired that Moscow has to approve it.