Trump Says Ukraine Could Be Licensed to Produce Patriot Missiles

ANKARA: (News Desk) – US President Donald Trump has said that Washington could grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air-defence systems, as Kyiv faces continued Russian missile and drone attacks.

Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on Wednesday, Trump said the two leaders would discuss allowing Ukraine to produce Patriots.

“One of the things we’re going to be talking about is we’re going to give a licence to you to make Patriots,” Trump said, adding that the US company involved had not yet been informed.

The Patriot system is considered one of the world’s most advanced air-defence platforms and has been crucial for Ukraine in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. However, Ukraine has faced shortages of Patriot interceptors after US supplies were affected by the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

Russian missile and drone strikes killed at least 10 people across Ukraine on Wednesday, including three people in the capital Kyiv, according to local officials.

Ukrainian military analyst Sergiy Zgurets said Russia was taking advantage of Ukraine’s limited Patriot stocks to launch ballistic missile attacks, particularly against Kyiv.

He said such strikes were also being used to create psychological pressure on the Ukrainian population.

Despite the proposed licence, analysts say local production of Patriot missiles may not provide an immediate solution, as manufacturing the missiles could take up to 24 months, while production of their engines may take around 30 months.

Trump said Ukraine’s recent strikes deep inside Russian territory could contribute to ending the war, although he described them as an escalation.

“It’s an escalation, but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end,” he said.

The meeting between Trump and Zelensky appeared more cordial than their previous Oval Office encounter, which had been marked by tensions.

“It’s hard to believe from the Oval Office to now we’ve developed a very good relationship,” Trump said.