United to win: Romania to transfer Patriot system to Ukraine

The Supreme National Defense Council of Romania, during a meeting chaired by President Klaus Iohannis, approved the transfer of the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.

This is reported on the Romanian head of state website.

The announcement mentioned that Patriot is being donated due to the "serious decline in the security situation in Ukraine" caused by continuous massive attacks by Russia on civilians and infrastructure, particularly in the energy sector. They also stressed the implications for the region, especially Romania's security.

Bucharest noted that such support is conditional on continued negotiations with allies, especially the US, to obtain a similar or equivalent system to protect Romanian airspace.

Iohannis' office said that, in general, among the issues on the agenda of the Council meeting was an analysis of the stage and prospects of the war in Ukraine and its consequences for Romania. The meeting emphasized efforts to support Kyiv, particularly in the context of the July NATO summit in Washington.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Romania and its President Klaus Iohannis for providing Ukraine with an additional Patriot air defense system.

"This important contribution will strengthen our air shield and help us better protect our people and critical infrastructure objects from Russian aerial terror. I appreciate Romania's strong leadership and its principled support for Ukraine," he said.

At the same time, Zelensky emphasized that such a step strengthens security in Ukraine, the entire region, and Europe.

"By putting an end to Russian terror now, Ukraine prevents potential aggression against Moldova, Romania, the Baltic states, and all our neighbors. It is essential for Ukraine to have the necessary tools to defeat Russian terror now so that in the future, no one has to face aggressive actions of Russia on a wider scale," he noted.