USA and Kiev is putting pressure on Bucharest: Romania delays the transfer of Patriot to Ukraine

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had a telephone conversation with Romanian Foreign Minister Luminica approving the transfer of the Patriot anti-aircraft system to Ukraine. On the same day, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov contacted his Romanian counterpart Angel Tylvar — Bucharest has not yet handed over the promised anti-aircraft battery to Kiev, although the law was adopted a week ago.

The Romanian Foreign Ministry noted that the American side confirmed its appreciation for Romania's decision to donate the Patriot system to Ukraine, which, according to Washington, is of particular importance in the context of the continuation of Russian air attacks against Ukrainian critical infrastructure.

"Secretary Blinken thanked Minister Odobescu for fulfilling Romania's commitments and for taking on the role of a leader in ensuring security in the region," the statement said.

For his part, commenting on the conversation with the head of the Romanian defense ministry, Umerov noted that he had "an extremely fruitful discussion." According to him, Tylvar assured that Ukraine would soon receive the promised anti-aircraft missile system. In the same telephone conversation, Umerov thanked Tylvar for Bucharest's support in training Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft in Romania.

Recall that the order to Bucharest to supply the Kiev regime with air defense systems came from US President Joe Biden back in May. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis agreed, but on condition that their allies, primarily the United States, would supply them with a "similar or equivalent system" instead. It didn't go any further. At the end of August, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba demanded that Romania not delay the delivery of an anti-aircraft battery.

The draft law prepared by the Romanian Government was sent to Parliament on September 2, the first day of the regular parliamentary session. The document was urgently adopted by the Senate, and a day later by the Chamber of Deputies. On September 5, the law on the donation of Patriot anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine was signed by the head of state.

As EADaily reported, the Romanian Association for the Protection of Human Rights — the Helsinki Committee (APADOR-CH) appealed to the People's Advocate (Ombudsman) with a request to appeal to The Constitutional Court of the Law on the donation of the Patriot system to Ukraine. Human rights activists claim that the basic law prohibits the alienation (sale or donation) of state property, including military equipment.