Romania is ready to discuss sending one Patriot battery to Ukraine

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said on Tuesday he was ready to discuss sending Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, following Germany’s appeal to its allies to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.

Other European countries – Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Sweden – also have Patriot systems, notes Reuters.

“There has been discussion over the last few weeks about who could send Patriot systems to Ukraine,” Iohannis told reporters in Washington after a meeting with US President Joe Biden. “President Biden mentioned this… at our meeting, and I said that I was open to discussion. I should discuss this in the Supreme Defense Council to see what we can offer and what we can get in return, because leaving Romania without Air defense is unacceptable,” said the Romanian President.

In 2017, Romania signed an agreement to purchase Patriot systems worth $4 billion. Currently, one Patriot battery is operational in Romania. The rest, Iohannis made clear, are at an advanced stage before being put into operation.

Romania, a NATO member since 2004, shares a 650-kilometer (400-mile) border with Ukraine. Fragments of Russian drones repeatedly landed on Romanian territory when Russia attacked Ukrainian ports on the opposite coast from Romania, Reuters notes.

On Tuesday, Iohannis also said he had discussed his bid for the top NATO post with Biden. Iohannis confirmed that he is not withdrawing his candidacy, despite strong support within the alliance for another candidate, outgoing Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.