Romanian DefMin: No Timeline for Romania’s Patriot System Compensation

The Minister of Defense, Angel Tîlvăr, who attended the first discussions regarding Romania’s compensation for the Patriot system donated to Ukraine and declared on Thursday in Washington, said that there is currently no time horizon for our country to receive a similar system or of an alternative.

“There were discussions the day before yesterday (Tuesday – n.r.) and yesterday (Wednesday – n.r.) morning. The day before yesterday I also participated and led the first discussion which was to create the calendar of the negotiations and the main elements of reference. As for the time horizon, I cannot give you concrete elements now, because it has not reached this stage of the discussion,” Tîlvăr told Romanian journalists.

President Klaus Iohannis declared on Wednesday, during a conference at NATO headquarters, that “our desire is to receive another Patriot system in exchange, certainly not tomorrow, but in the relatively near future, but to compensate for the absence of the system on which we are giving now, I think we will succeed in obtaining systems that will be delivered faster and will ensure better surveillance of the national airspace”.

Questioned if it is currently known when Romania will send the Patriot system to Ukraine, the Minister of Defense answered: “I don’t have this date, because this date does not currently exist.”

Zelensky After Signing Deal: Grateful for Romania’s Solidarity

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Thursday, on the X social network, after signing the bilateral security agreement with Romania, that he is “grateful for every expression of solidarity with his country and people”.

“Together with the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, in Washington, we signed a security agreement between the two countries. We have established specific points of cooperation for strengthening security in the Black Sea region. Ukraine will receive from Romania the Patriot system and support for our defense industry. In addition, Romania, together with our partners, will support the F-16 training center for Ukrainian pilots. I am grateful for every expression of solidarity with our country and people”, Zelenski said in a post on X.