Zelenskyy: US positive about missile licence issue for first time
President Zelenskyy said the United States has for the first time taken a positive view on granting licences for Ukraine to produce anti-ballistic missiles.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that Ukraine will obtain licences to produce anti-ballistic missiles, citing positive signals from the US and the G7. Speaking at a joint press conference with Honduran President Nasry Asfura in Kyiv on 19 June, Zelenskyy noted that this is the first time the American side has viewed the licence issue positively.
"Licences for the production of our missiles are, for the first time, being viewed positively by the American side. Previously, I had been raising this issue since the administration of President Biden, but we never received anything," Zelenskyy said. He added that he expects the US to conduct all necessary consultations with manufacturers, within the administration, and with the military, and hopes for a positive response.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine has all the capabilities necessary to manufacture such missiles. On Tuesday, he had already stated that US President Donald Trump responded positively to the proposal. Trump later said he would consider Ukraine’s request for licences to produce interceptor missiles.
On 18 June, Ukraine and Germany signed an agreement in Brussels to cooperate on the production of anti-ballistic systems. Earlier in June, Zelenskyy said Ukraine is working with European and American partners to launch European production of air defence systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.
