Trump says US will let Ukraine make Patriot missiles in major policy shift

President Donald Trump said Wednesday the U.S. will give Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, a move that could mark a significant shift from supplying Kyiv with American-made weapons to helping Ukraine produce them itself.

Trump made the comments while meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as Kyiv continues to press Western allies for additional air defense capabilities to counter Russian missile and drone attacks.

Trump's announcement comes as Patriot interceptors have become one of Ukraine's most urgent military needs. The U.S.-made Patriot system is widely regarded as Ukraine's most capable defense against Russian ballistic missile attacks and has played a central role in protecting Kyiv and other critical infrastructure.

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Asked whether he would allow Patriot interceptors to be made in Europe and whether he was comfortable licensing the technology, Trump said the two leaders would discuss it.

"We're going to talk about that," Trump said. "Look, it's a defensive weapon, which I like better than an offensive weapon. It's the best." 

Minutes later, Trump went further, saying the U.S. would give Ukraine a license to make Patriots.

"We're going to give a license to you to make patriots," Trump said. "That's pretty cool. Right? This way you can't complain that we're not giving them enough. I'd say make them yourself." 

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"We haven't informed the company of that yet, but that'll that'll work out all right," he added. "You know, I'm sure they'll be thrilled, but, you know, they'll be able to do it. You'll be able to figure that out." 

Ukrainian officials have warned that supplies of Patriot interceptors have fallen to dangerously low levels, leaving the country increasingly vulnerable as Russia intensifies missile strikes. Zelenskyy arrived at the NATO summit seeking additional Patriot interceptors from allies while also pressing for longer-term solutions to expand production, arguing that current manufacturing cannot keep pace with Russia's growing missile campaign.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to Patriot interceptor missiles, the broader Patriot air defense system, or production in Ukraine, Europe or both.

Trump’s comment that the administration had not yet informed the company also raised questions about how far along the licensing plan is and what role RTX, the defense contractor that manufactures Patriot systems, would play in any future arrangement.

The Patriot system has been one of Ukraine’s most sought-after air defense platforms as Russia continues launching missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure and military targets.

Any effort to expand Patriot production would face significant industrial hurdles. 

RTX serves as the prime contractor for the Patriot air defense system, manufacturing its radars, launchers and the PAC-2 GEM-T interceptor, while Lockheed Martin builds the newer PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptor, which is designed to defeat ballistic missiles. The interceptors are among the world's most sophisticated air defense weapons, relying on hundreds of specialized suppliers and complex manufacturing processes.

Fox News Digital has reached out to RTX and Lockheed Martin for comment.

Defense officials and industry executives have said it can take more than two years to produce a Patriot interceptor, underscoring why the U.S. and its allies have struggled to replenish stockpiles as demand has surged amid conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.