Photo: EPA
US President Donald Trump suggested that Ukraine could receive the right to manufacture Patriot air defense systems under license.
Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a joint briefing on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, Trump said:
“A little bird told me that we’re going to give them the right to make Patriot. We’ll show them how to make it. It’s not finalized yet, but it will happen.”
He added that Ukraine would likely master the production process quickly because, in his view, the country has demonstrated strong capabilities in manufacturing military equipment.
Trump also remarked that he had expected Russia’s war against Ukraine to be “easier to end,” but described Russian leader Vladimir Putin as “a difficult character.”
Ukraine seeks domestic Patriot production
Ukraine has been negotiating with the United States for some time to obtain a license to produce Patriot systems and interceptor missiles.
Earlier, President Zelenskyy confirmed that Kyiv and Washington were discussing the transfer of a license to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles. He stressed that support from NATO partners is essential, noting that Europe also needs stronger protection against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Although Ukraine aims to develop its own air defense industry, it currently lacks domestic technology capable of producing systems designed specifically to intercept ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian defense company Fire Point has announced talks with European partners on developing a new air defense system intended as a more affordable alternative to Patriot. The company aims to reduce the cost of intercepting a ballistic missile to under $1 million per shot, with the first system planned for completion by the end of 2027.
