Trump Announces Plan to License Patriot Missile Production in Ukraine

During the NATO summit in Turkey, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Ukraine would be granted a license to produce Patriot missile interceptors. In a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump said, "We're going to be giving a license to you," adding, "We'll show them how to do it."

The move comes in response to repeated requests from Ukraine for additional air defense systems. Kyiv has sought permission for local production as global stockpiles of the U.S.-made interceptors have decreased. The need was reportedly amplified after a recent Russian missile attack that Ukrainian defenses failed to intercept.

Trump suggested that production could start relatively soon, with U.S. manufacturers traveling to Ukraine to provide technical assistance. "I think they can produce them pretty quickly," Trump commented. "They have a great ability to produce weapons." President Zelenskyy responded favorably to the announcement, stating, "It's a great idea. We need it."

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Zelenskyy attended the summit following a series of Ukrainian missile and drone strikes on Russian supply routes and occupied Crimea. Trump remarked on the pressure these actions have placed on Russia, noting that Ukraine "has been very effective" in its strikes. The primary manufacturers of the Patriot missile defense system are Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation.