US, Romania reaffirm support for Ukraine

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Romanian Foreign Minister Luminita Odobescu on Friday voiced support for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.

During meeting in Washington, DC on the occasion of the US-Romania Strategic Dialogue, Blinken and Odobescu reaffirmed "the importance of supporting Ukraine against Russia’s aggression and committed to working together as NATO Allies to strengthen security and energy resilience across the Black Sea region," State Department said in a statement.

The top diplomats also signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate in combating foreign state information manipulation, it added.

Separately, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Friday that the US welcomed Romania’s decision to donate a Patriot missile defense system to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.

"Together with allies and partners, we are supporting Ukraine’s self-defense - and Romania is helping lead the way," he said on X.

Romania will donate a battery of US-made Patriot long-range air defense system to Ukraine, the Romanian president’s office confirmed Thursday.