The US has requested the National Guard hand over Russian-made weapons systems to Ukraine.
Defence Minister Charalambos Petrides confirmed the request but emphasised that practical issues complicate matters, such as how the systems would be replaced in light of the ongoing US arms embargo against the Republic, Sigma reported on Sunday.
The minister also said that the contracts which facilitated the procurement of the Russian-made weapons systems will also have to be studied, to see whether it is even possible to proceed with handing them over to another country.
The issue came to light on Sunday when Kathimerini published a report that the US is interested in enhancing Ukraine’s attempts to combat Russia’s invasion by procuring the National Guard’s Russian-made weapons systems.
Analysts noted that the maintenance of the current Russian-made armaments may prove cumbersome for Cyprus considering the EU’s sanctions against Moscow, which Nicosia has complied with.
Main opposition party Akel on Monday called on the government to take a stance against sending military equipment to the conflict zone.
In a statement Akel reminded the government that the foreign minister had told the House foreign affairs committee on March 8 that Cyprus had ruled out sending military equipment to Ukraine.
Akel expressed direct opposition to compliance with the US request. “The involvement of Cyprus in the military confrontation in Ukraine neither contributes to peace or the end of bloodshed, nor does it protect the interests of our country” it said.
“We also note that at a time when reports indicate that the US government is making such demands, Turkey, an occupying power, has been declared a ‘peacekeeping force’ in Ukraine, despite its refusal to institute sanctions against Russia,” it added.
Akel reiterated its position that military escalation would have disastrous consequences for the people of Ukraine, Europe and the world at large.
The US in 2020 partially lifted an arms embargo against Cyprus that applies to non-lethal systems. In September last year, the US Department of State renewed for one more year the partial waiver on the arms embargo.
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