In brief
During the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump offered Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot missile batteries, a move that could speed up the country’s air‑defence capabilities amid a surge in Russian ballistic attacks. Zelensky had already formally requested such a licence in May, but Ukraine’s own production capacity remains limited. U.S. companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have not yet been notified, and experts doubt Kyiv can meet the complex technical and security demands. The U.S. is reluctant to transfer existing stock, citing a depleting reserve used in earlier conflicts, but Trump highlighted the urgency of the situation. Kyiv’s limited arsenal of interceptor missiles has left it vulnerable, with recent strikes claiming numerous lives.
Former President Donald Trump has offered Ukraine the right to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, which could help Kyiv defend against Russia's ballistic missile attacks.
"We are gonna give you a licence to make Patriots," Trump told President Volodymyr Zelensky during Wednesday's NATO summit in Ankara. "I think they can produce them very quickly once we explain it."
He said he had not yet informed defence manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of his decision, "but that'll work out alright". Patriots detect and intercept missiles and are regarded as one of the world's best air defence systems - and the most expensive: a single battery, with missiles, is worth around $1bn (£740m).
The U.S. Department of Defence reports only 600 Patriots are produced per year. Despite this, the U.S. remains reluctant to part with any, citing its own depleted stock after using more than half of it during the war with Iran earlier this year.
Zelensky confirmed in May that Ukraine had formally asked the U.S. to authorise licensed production of Patriots. The country faces a serious shortage of interceptor missiles; an Air Force report last week noted that all 23 ballistic missiles fired by Russia on Sunday night were not shot down, costing more than 20 lives.
Experts caution that Ukraine is not yet equipped to produce advanced munitions such as the Patriot on its own due to sophisticated technology requirements and security issues. Military analyst Ivan Stupak suggested that production would most likely take place on European soil under strict supervision.
Trump also noted Ukraine’s recent long‑range strikes on Russia, hoping such escalation would pressure Moscow to end the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that Ukraine’s strikes on Russian refineries showed how difficult it is to defend its airspace, pushing for a resolution.
The president later asked Zelensky if he would be prepared to travel to Moscow for a meeting—something Putin reportedly would only hold in his capital. Zelensky quipped that a trip would be difficult due to Ukrainian drones in Russia.
