Photo: Getty Images
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the United States wants Ukraine to be able to defend itself and will find ways to support that goal, while also encouraging European allies to take on a larger share of the burden.
Speaking in an interview with DRM News, Hegseth was asked whether Washington would increase deliveries of missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot air defense systems, a request repeatedly raised by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“We are changing the way we produce all of these critical munitions to ensure our companies deliver not just a little more, but significantly more across the board,” Hegseth said. “Where we can help Ukraine, we do. Where we can enable Europe to do more, we do that as well.”
He praised Europe’s growing commitment to supporting Ukraine, noting that European countries have stepped up both financially and militarily, while Ukraine has used the assistance effectively.
“We want Ukraine to be able to defend itself, and we will find a way to make sure that happens,” Hegseth added.
The Pentagon chief also highlighted the lessons the U.S. military continues to learn from Ukraine’s battlefield experience, particularly in drone warfare. According to Hegseth, success increasingly depends not only on advanced technology but also on the ability to rapidly scale and adapt low-cost unmanned systems.
His remarks come as Kyiv continues to press Washington for additional Patriot interceptor missiles or a license to manufacture them domestically. Zelensky has argued that expanding missile production would not only strengthen Ukraine’s defenses but could also help meet growing demand among allied nations facing evolving missile threats.
