Zelensky Reveals Trump’s Decision on Ukrainian Production of Patriot Missiles

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed the decision made by his US counterpart, Donald Trump, regarding the granting of a license for Kyiv to produce Patriot missiles.

The Ukrainian president said on Friday that Trump had informed him of his final decision to allow Kyiv to manufacture missiles for Patriot air defense systems following lengthy discussions on the issue.

Ukraine is facing a shortage of these missiles, which are among the few systems capable of reliably intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.

In an audio message to journalists several days after meeting Trump in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Zelensky said: “During our most recent meeting, the president confirmed to me that he had made a final decision. Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot missiles.”

In July, Trump said that granting Ukraine such licenses would be “absolutely wonderful.”

He later appeared to step back from that position, saying the United States had to be “extremely careful” before giving Kyiv the authorization.

Ukrainian officials say the country has faced a severe shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles since the United States and Israel launched their war against Iran in February, causing supplies of the advanced defense systems to be redirected.

Even if the licenses are granted, developing the necessary industrial capacity will take more than a year and will not meet Kyiv’s immediate needs, according to Agence France-Presse.

Ukraine has renewed its calls for urgent support before the onset of winter amid the threat of another Russian campaign targeting the country’s energy and heating infrastructure.

Kyiv says it needs 5% of the United States’ stockpile of Patriot interceptor missiles to withstand the winter and 10% to destroy all Russian ballistic missiles.

At the same time, Ukraine is developing its own anti-ballistic missile system, named “Vriya.”