The Supreme Council of National Defence (CSAT) decided on Thursday that Romania donates a high-range PATRIOT surface-to-air missile system to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The decision was announced through a press release sent by the Presidential Administration after the CSAT meeting, held at the Cotroceni Palace.

The Ministry of National Defence presented to the CSAT a detailed analysis regarding the situation of the operationalization of the four PATRIOT systems, the progress of the endowment programme with the other three systems, their operational importance at the national and allied level, as well as the impact generated by a possible transfer of a system, the quoted source reads.

„Considering the significant deterioration of the security situation in Ukraine, as a result of Russia’s constant and massive attacks on civilians and civil infrastructure, especially on the energy sector, as well as the regional consequences of this situation, including on Romania’s security, in close coordination with the Allies, the members of the Council decided to donate a PATRIOT system to Ukraine,” the source says.

CSAT announces that „this donation is made on the condition of the continuation of our country’s negotiations with its allies, especially with the American strategic partner, in order to obtain a similar or equivalent system, which will meet the need to ensure the protection of the national airspace, to modernize the Romanian Army and to ensure interoperability with the NATO system, being, at the same time, necessary to identify a temporary solution to cover the operational vulnerability thus created”.

According to the press release, the Council’s decision was based on „a thorough technical evaluation of the Romanian authorities, all measures being taken to eliminate the risk of creating possible vulnerabilities for Romania”.

„At the same time, the discussions with the allies will continue so that the air defence of our country is further strengthened. Romania’s position is and will continue to be unequivocal in the multidimensional support of Ukraine, together with the international community, in its legitimate right to self-defence in the face of Russia’s illegal and unprovoked aggression,” the source emphasizes.

According to the press release, the meeting highlighted „the continuous deterioration of the security situation in the eastern vicinity of our country, as a result of the intensification of Russia’s military actions, and the wider security implications and risks that these actions generate for the region were emphasized, especially for the Republic of Moldova, but also for European and Euro-Atlantic security”.

„In the discussions on this topic, the efforts to support Ukraine were emphasized, stressing on the perspectives offered by the Washington Summit for an increased commitment of NATO towards Kyiv. Romania has supported Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict, understanding the dramatic situation especially from the perspective of ensuring the essential defensive systems in countering the aggression unleashed by the Russian Federation, which is hitting the urban areas and the critical infrastructure of the neighboring country,” the Presidential Administration says.

The discussions at the CSAT level also targeted the national efforts to strengthen cooperation and bilateral interaction with Ukraine, highlighted by the ongoing processes regarding the establishment of a strategic partnership between Romania and Ukraine and the consolidation of cooperation on the security line.

AGERPRES