Zelenskyy said that Trump has made a “final decision” to grant a Patriot missile license to Ukraine – what does this mean for Kyiv | Today’s news
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that US President Donald Trump had made a “final decision” to allow Ukraine to obtain licenses to domestically manufacture Patriot anti-missile missiles, which may give Kiev a longer-term way to boost its air defense capabilities.
“At our last meeting, President Trump emphasized to me that yes, I have made the final decision. Ukraine will receive licenses to manufacture Patriot missiles,” Zelenskyy said, according to AFP.
The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty over the proposal.
According to the AFP news agency, Trump has apparently previously backed away from granting a license to Kiev to manufacture Patriot anti-missiles.
What did Trump and Zelensky discuss?
Trump and Zelenskyi met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York earlier this week.
Zelenskyy said the two leaders discussed possible “de-escalation steps” that could pave the way for diplomacy.
He also said that their teams continue to work on establishing the production of Patriot fighters in Ukraine.
The issue is a long-term priority for Kiev as it seeks to strengthen its ability to counter Russian ballistic missiles and other long-range attacks.
Why does Ukraine want to produce Patriot missiles?
Ukraine is facing a shortage of Patriot anti-missile missiles as Russia has stepped up its missile and drone attacks.
The Patriot system is among the most advanced air defense systems delivered to Ukraine and is particularly important for countering ballistic missile threats.
Therefore, Kiev has repeatedly urged its allies to provide additional interceptors while seeking permission to manufacture missiles domestically.
During a meeting with Zelensky at the 2026 NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the US would allow Ukraine to build missiles.
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“We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said, according to Euronews, adding that domestic production would address Ukraine’s concerns about insufficient supplies.
What does this decision mean for Kyiv?
The shortage has become a significant problem as Russia continues its missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure.
Zelenskyy said last month that Ukraine would need about 5% of the US stockpile of Patriot anti-missile missiles to survive the winter and about 10% to intercept all Russian ballistic missiles, according to AFP.
With winter approaching, Kyiv is once again calling for additional air defense assistance, especially to protect electricity, heating and other critical infrastructure.
The production license would represent a shift from Ukraine, which would be almost entirely dependent on foreign supplies of Patriot anti-missiles, towards the development of domestic production capacity.
But the immediate challenge remains unchanged: Ukraine needs more interceptors now, while building a domestic production line will take time.
For Kyiv, the license is likely to provide a longer-term solution to its air defense supply problem.
