Key facts
- President Trump stated the U.S. has not agreed to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles.
- Trump cited the difficulty of sharing sensitive technology as a reason for hesitation.
- This statement contradicts President Volodymyr Zelensky's earlier claim that Trump had agreed to provide the licenses.
- Ukraine has been pleading for international partners to help address its air defense crisis.
- Trump's envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, are expected to visit Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that the White House has not agreed to allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, citing concerns over sharing sensitive technology. This statement contradicts earlier claims by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who had stated after a meeting with Trump that the U.S. leader had "accepted that he will give us licenses" for the production of the air defense systems.
Trump expressed hesitation, calling it a "hard thing to give away, that kind of technology" and emphasizing the need for caution regarding American defense secrets, noting that recipients could "turn on you." He also mentioned the efficacy of Patriots against Iranian missiles in the Middle East and his administration's supply of Javelins to Ukraine in 2017. Trump indicated that his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, would visit Ukraine in the coming days.
Ukraine has long sought Patriot missiles to defend against Russian drone and ballistic missile attacks. Zelensky had previously appealed to Trump for Patriot missiles and additional systems. Following a recent meeting with Trump, Zelensky also discussed potential joint production with officials from Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the Patriots, though no concrete timeline has been established. Zelensky also spoke with U.S. Vice President JD Vance about Ukraine's air defense needs.