"We have to get something": Romanian President names the condition for the transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has said that the country may be ready to transfer the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine to protect it from Russian missiles and drones but on one condition. Bucharest must receive "something else" if it transfers this air defense system to Kyiv.

The Romanian president was quoted by Digi24 on Wednesday, May 22. According to him, the decision must be approved by the country's Supreme National Defense Council.

Iohannis said that he reserves the right not to discuss the issue of a possible transfer of the Patriot system to Ukraine "in a wide public space," saying that "this should be discussed with army experts."

According to the newspaper, the president said that "there is no time horizon" for making this decision, but made it clear that he would not accept Romania being left without air defense: if Romania gives up something, it must receive something else.

"I don't comment on this issue and I don't think it has anything to do with the general public. This is an issue that needs to be discussed with army experts, which should be finally resolved by the CSAT (Supreme Council of National Defense)," said Iohannis.

He emphasized that the transfer of Patriot is a complicated process involving a number of logistical and legal issues, "not to mention that I do not agree under any circumstances that Romania should be left without missile and air defense."

"If Romania ends up giving up something, it has to get something else. Otherwise, nothing will be done," the Romanian president said.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Romanian Defense Minister Angel Tilver expressed great doubts about the transfer of Patriot to Ukraine. However, when Germany called on the EU and NATO countries to strengthen Ukraine's air defense, Romanian leader Klaus Iohannis said he was ready to consider the issue.

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