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U.S. President Donald Trump said he discussed the possibility of Ukraine producing Patriot interceptor missiles not only with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but also with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Speaking to reporters, Trump was asked whether he had discussed Patriot missiles with Zelenskyy. He said the issue had been a major part of their talks and that the two had spent considerable time discussing it.
“I talked a lot with him — he and Putin agree. I hope that one day, maybe in the near future, perhaps even before the harsh winter, they will make a deal,” Trump said.
Trump did not provide details about what he had discussed with Putin regarding Patriot missile production or what the Russian president’s position was.
Zelenskyy says Trump approved the license
On September 25, Zelenskyy said Trump had made a final decision to grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot interceptor missiles.
“There are specific agreements. At our latest meeting, President Trump stressed to me: ‘Yes, I have made the final decision: Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot missiles,’” Zelenskyy said.
The announcement followed months of uncertainty over whether Washington would authorize licensed production in Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War noted that Trump had not publicly confirmed the decision at the time of its September 25 assessment.
Zelenskyy did not specify when production could begin, what types of Patriot interceptors would be covered by the licenses or what manufacturing capacity Ukraine would have.
Why Patriot missiles matter
Ukraine is seeking additional Patriot interceptors as Russia continues using ballistic missiles and large numbers of attack drones against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.
Patriot systems are among the few weapons Ukraine uses to defend against Russian ballistic missiles. Kyiv has argued that licensed domestic production could eventually reduce its dependence on foreign supplies, although establishing production would take time.
Trump has previously said that the United States needs to be cautious about transferring technology involved in Patriot production, while also indicating that Ukraine could potentially manufacture the interceptors under license.
The latest statements come as Washington continues to seek a diplomatic settlement to the war while Ukraine faces continued Russian missile and drone attacks.
