Ukraine may soon be building one of America’s most important air-defense weapons instead of waiting for the next shipment.
President Trump said Wednesday he plans to grant Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriot missiles, a move he said could help Ukraine strengthen its own defenses as supplies of the high-demand interceptors remain stretched thin.
“One of the things I think we’re going to be talking about today, a little birdie told me this, about the fact that we’ll give them the right to make Patriots,” Trump said before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit, according to the New York Post.
Then came the punchline.
“This way, you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough.”
According to the New York Post, Patriot missile inventories have become critically low, forcing Ukraine in recent days to leave some incoming Russian missile attacks unanswered.
The newspaper reported that Ukrainian officials said Russia launched 23 missiles on Sunday and that none were intercepted because of the shortage. Ukrainian officials said the strikes killed at least 22 people and injured 56 others.
Trump said he believes Ukraine could begin producing Patriot missiles as soon as this fall.
“We’ll show them how to do it,” he said. “It’s very complex, actually, but you’ll figure out the complexity quickly.”
He added that the manufacturer behind the Patriot system is building four plants and predicted the technology transfer could move quickly.
“All of our companies will be able to do this in two to three months,” Trump said.
The proposal would mark a significant step for Ukraine, which the New York Post reported has spent years seeking permission to manufacture Patriot missiles as global stockpiles dwindled.
The meeting also highlighted how much Trump’s relationship with Zelensky has changed.
“We’ve actually developed a good relationship!” Trump said. “Hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now.”
The remark referenced their contentious White House meeting in February 2025, when Trump told Zelensky he didn’t “have the cards.”
According to the New York Post, the war has pushed Ukraine to rapidly expand its domestic defense industry, giving Kyiv confidence it could quickly increase Patriot production if it receives U.S. approval.
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NOW: President Trump Announces he is Giving Ukraine the License to Make Patriot Missles – 07/08/26 pic.twitter.com/dyUSfoXfZr
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