The Army Recognition published an article in which it is said that Cyprus is allegedly ready to return to the issue of the transfer of its Soviet T-80U battle tanks. And although the publication does not disclose its sources, this news is worth paying attention to, if only because it is not the first time that Cyprus is trying to replace its tanks with something more powerful.
So, as early as April 2022, the media reported that Cyprus could allocate its Soviet BMP-3, T-80 tanks and Buk air defense systems to Ukraine, but on the condition that the United States of America replaces these systems with newer tanks, BMPs and air defense systems, however such a "scheme" was never implemented.
Read more: Current State of “The Latest” Weapons, Russia Threatens Ukraine With a “Big War”
Now in Cyprus they are allegedly talking about new conditions under which T-80U tanks from the armed forces of this country can be transferred to Ukraine. In particular, Cyprus wants to get Leopard tanks instead of Soviet tanks, but not from anyone, but specifically from Greece - because Cyprus is convinced that it is from Greece that they can get a "replacement" for their T-80U as soon as possible - and in this, in fact, there is own truth.
But at the same time, as they conclude in Army Recognition, Greece, which has Turkey by its side, also seems to be in no hurry to give up its Leopard 2 and is ready to "wait" for the Leopard 2 in new version from Germany.
"Greece wants first to get Leopard 2s in exchange to avoid depletion of its arsenal amid rising tensions with Turkey (also equipped with Leopard 2s in the waiting of its future indigenous Altay MBTs)," the author of the article in Army Recognition conclude.
Speaking about the Cypriot T-80U, first of all it is worth noting the following - according to Military Balance, Cyprus has as many as 82 tanks in service, and this is almost an entire tank brigade, provided that Cyprus agrees to hand over all its Soviet vehicles. And taking into account the fact that Greece most likely will not supply its Leopards to Ukraine, this looks like a good deal for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
However, this agreement can only be so if Greece either agrees to transfer its Leopard tanks to Cyprus without a "ring exchange" with another country, or agrees to wait until the Armed Forces receive its Leopard tanks first as in the case with Marder IFVs. Despite the fact that the "collective supply" of Leopard 2 tanks for the Armed Force of Ukraines has not yet been officially agreed upon, the "window of opportunity" for the tanks still remains open.
Read more: Poles Will Train Ukrainian Crews of German Leopard 2 Tanks
