Trump promises Ukraine license to manufacture Patriot systems

US President Donald Trump made the announcement during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8. Trump said he had been informed by an unnamed source that the US would grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot systems, though he did not specify whether this would include the complete systems or only interceptor missiles.

“We'll show them how to do it – it's very complex actually. But you'll figure out the complexity quickly,” Trump said, expressing confidence in Ukraine's ability to master the technology. The move is part of continued Western support for Ukraine in its war against Russian aggression.

Earlier, Zelenskyy announced plans for an “anti-ballistic coalition” and told US lawmakers about a shortage of Patriot interceptors. Meanwhile, NATO officials have stated that there will never be enough ballistic missile interceptors to meet all demands.