G7 Leaders Consider Granting Ukraine Licenses for Interceptor Missile Production
G7 leaders have agreed to increase air defense supplies to Ukraine and expressed readiness to consider granting licenses for local production of interceptor missiles, while also strengthening sanctions against Russia's energy sector.
The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) have agreed to boost deliveries of air defense systems and interceptor missiles to Ukraine and declared their willingness to consider granting licenses for their production directly in Ukraine, according to a joint statement issued at the summit.
In the statement, the G7 leaders reaffirmed unwavering solidarity with the Ukrainian people amid systematic Russian strikes on critical infrastructure and cultural heritage sites. They praised Ukraine's resilience and the successes of its defense forces on the battlefield in recent months, noting a new momentum at the front.
"To support and accelerate this new momentum, we agree to increase deliveries of air defense means, additional systems and interceptor missiles, as well as long-range weapons. We are also ready to consider granting Ukraine relevant licenses to facilitate an increase in military production volumes in Ukraine," the statement read.
The leaders also agreed to provide support to strengthen Ukraine's energy resilience ahead of the coming winter. Additionally, the G7 committed to intensifying pressure on Russia's war economy by expanding sanctions against the Russian oil and gas sector.
This development follows repeated requests by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the United States for licenses to produce Patriot systems. He has highlighted an acute shortage of interceptor missiles amid constant Russian ballistic strikes and noted that US production capacity cannot keep up with global demand, though the situation had previously stalled.
In early June, Zelensky said Ukraine is cooperating with European and American partners to start producing air defense systems capable of shooting down ballistic missiles in European countries. On June 16, on the sidelines of the G7 summit, Zelensky held a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump. Zelensky personally asked Trump to grant Ukraine licenses for the production of American anti-ballistic systems and interceptor missiles, including for Patriot systems. According to Zelensky, Trump reacted "positively" to the proposal, and teams from both countries will begin work on the matter.
