Donald Trump has announced that the US will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles, handing Kyiv a major boost as it battles relentless Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Speaking at the NATO summit in Turkey, the US President said Washington would grant Ukraine a licence to produce the American-made air defence missiles domestically.
“We are gonna give a license to you to make Patriots,” Trump told reporters.
This way you can’t complain that we are not giving you enough.
“Make them yourself.”
Patriot missile systems are regarded as one of the few Western air defence weapons capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles and have become a vital part of Ukraine’s defensive shield.
Kyiv has repeatedly urged its allies for more Patriot missiles as Russia steps up missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Allowing Ukraine to manufacture the missiles could help reduce its reliance on limited Western stockpiles and speed up future supplies.
Trump said he believed Ukraine could begin producing the missiles quickly.
However, he also acknowledged he had not discussed the proposal with US defence giant Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the Patriot missile system.
It remains unclear when any licence agreement could be implemented or how quickly Ukraine would be able to establish domestic production.
The announcement comes as demand for Patriot missiles has surged globally, with both Ukraine and countries across the Middle East seeking additional supplies to counter growing missile threats.
If approved, the move would represent one of the most significant steps yet towards expanding Ukraine’s domestic defence manufacturing capability as the war with Russia continues.
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