Trump to discuss Patriot missile production licenses for Ukraine with Zelensky
US President Donald Trump said he will discuss with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during their meeting in New York, the possibility of granting Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier said such talks were already underway.
US President Donald Trump said the possibility of granting Ukraine licenses to produce missiles for Patriot air defense systems will be discussed during his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York. Trump made the remarks while answering reporters' questions.
Journalists reminded Trump that he had previously mentioned the possibility of producing Patriot missiles in Ukraine and asked whether he intended to follow through on that. Trump replied that the matter would be discussed at his meeting with Zelensky, adding that it was possible and that the topic came up constantly, describing it as very powerful production carried out by very talented people.
Earlier statements
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was negotiating with Kyiv over licenses to produce Patriot missiles. On July 31, Trump, commenting on the same issue, said the United States needed to be very careful on the matter.
The Financial Times also reported that in late July Trump turned down a request from Zelensky for several hundred additional Patriot interceptor missiles, citing the United States' own needs in the Middle East.
