Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu regarding Romania’s donation of a PATRIOT strategic air defense system to Ukraine. Secretary Blinken thanked Minister Odobescu for fulfilling Romania’s commitment and for its continued leadership in the defense of regional security. He underscored the United States’ continued support for Ukraine and its freedom from Russia’s aggression, Spokesperson Matthew Miller said.
MAE confirmed that Minister of Foreign Affairs Luminița Odobescu and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had a telephone discussion on Thursday, September 12, 2024, on the situation of regional security, including the violation of Romania’s airspace following the Russian attacks on Ukrainian river ports. Russia’s Black Sea attack on a merchant ship carrying grain was also addressed.
“The Minister of Foreign Affairs welcomed the support and solidarity of the US and Allies with Romania and stressed the importance of maintaining developments in the Black Sea and the region in the constant attention of NATO. It welcomed the reiterating, by the American counterpart, of the U.S. commitment to defend every inch of allied territory. It has shown that the Allies must implement all the commitments made to ensure the security of the Euro-Atlantic area in general and in the Black Sea region in particular.
The two officials discussed recent developments on the support they are giving Ukraine against the illegal and unjustified aggression of the Russian Federation. The American side reiterated the appreciation for Romania’s decision to donate a PATRIOT system to Ukraine, a donation of particular importance in the context of the continuation of Russian airstrikes against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The US Secretary of State underscored the US commitment to continue the measures to strengthen Romania’s defense capacity.
The heads of the two diplomats reiterated their support for the Republic of Moldova in its efforts to repel Russia’s hybrid actions, including influencing the outcome of the electoral processes in October.
At the same time, the two officials reviewed Romania’s substantial progress in meeting the conditions for access to the Visa Waiver Program,” says a MAE press release.
Although the law on the Patriot system donation was adopted by the Parliament in Bucharest, the missile system has not reached Ukraine yet. Yesterday, Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, stated that he had an “extremely fruitful discussion” with the Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr. “Ukraine will soon receive a new Patriot anti-aircraft system from our Romanian partners,” Umerov said in a post published on X.
The law regarding Romania’s donation of a Patriot anti-aircraft system destined for Ukraine was promulgated by President Klaus Iohannis on September 5 and published the same day in the Official Gazette.
According to the law, “a Patriot surface-to-air missile system (…) is the subject of acts of donation to third parties, under the terms of the law, by decision of the Government”.
To date, the Ciolacu government has not issued such a government decision regarding the transfer/donation of the Patriot system to Ukraine.
The first discussion about donating a Patriot system to Ukraine appeared in May after Klaus Iohannis was received at the White House by Joe Biden. The Romanian president was “open” to discussions in this regard but said that “he will have to discuss in the CSAT to find a solution”. Just a week away, the Romanian Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, said that the Patriot air-to-ground system is “indispensable” to Romania and that “no one said that we have to give it (an anti-aircraft battery)”.
A month later, on June 20, the Supreme National Defense Council approved the sending by Romania of a Patriot anti-aircraft system to Ukraine. During the summer, the Romanian Parliament, which was on parliamentary vacation, was not convened in an emergency session to adopt a law in this regard.
On August 22, comments by political leaders from Kiev regarding the Patriot system promised by Romania to Ukraine appeared in the international press.
On August 30, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister directly asked Romania not to delay the delivery of the anti-aircraft battery in the context where the Ukrainians are paying for these delays “with damages and loss of human lives”.