Trump: US itself needs Patriot missiles, not just Ukraine

US President Donald Trump has said that the United States itself needs missiles, responding to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's repeated appeals for long-range missiles and Patriot air defense ammunition.

When a journalist at the White House noted that Zelensky stresses an urgent need for such weapons, Trump replied briefly that the US also wants these missiles. He added that former President Joe Biden had already given Ukraine substantial support, including roughly $300 billion worth of ammunition.

Replenishing stockpiles a priority

Trump emphasized that stocks of Patriot missiles and other weapons have declined, making replenishment for America's own needs the current priority.

Promises without clarity

After meeting Zelensky in July at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump had announced that the US would grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles. However, he later repeatedly hinted that this pledge might not materialize, leaving uncertainty over future support for Ukraine's air defense.

The news agency Reuters had previously reported that US stockpiles of certain missile types may have significantly declined due to the military conflict Trump launched against Iran in late February.