U.S. President Donald Trump has said the United States will grant Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, a potentially significant step that could help Kyiv strengthen its air defences against Russia.
Speaking alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit, Trump said the move would allow Ukraine to manufacture the U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles domestically.
"We're going to give a license to you to make Patriots. That's pretty cool. This way, you can't complain that we're not giving 'em enough," Trump said.
He described the Patriot system as a defensive capability, adding: "It's a defensive weapon, which I like better than an offensive weapon."
Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Washington to provide more Patriot interceptors. They remain the only weapons in Ukraine's arsenal capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, which are particularly difficult to intercept because of their speed and flight path.
Trump also suggested the U.S. government could encourage defence companies to increase production.
"We have great power over the companies, those companies that make the Patriot," he said.
He added: "We haven't informed the company of that yet, but that'll work out all right. I'm sure they will be thrilled."
U.S. defence company Lockheed Martin is the main contractor responsible for producing the interceptor missiles used in the Patriot system.
The announcement came as Russia launched another overnight missile and drone attack on Kyiv. Ukrainian officials said it was the third ballistic missile strike on the capital in less than a week, highlighting the country's continuing shortage of Patriot interceptors.
According to Ukraine's air force, air defences shot down 139 of the 169 drones launched overnight. However, none of the five ballistic missiles fired by Russia were intercepted.
Trump also said he believed both Moscow and Kyiv wanted to bring the war to an end, although he described negotiations as challenging.
"We've settled a lot of wars, and this one is the one that I thought maybe would be the easiest, but Putin is a difficult character, and this guy's a difficult character," Trump said, referring to Zelenskyy, who was sitting beside him.
Zelenskyy said he planned to discuss "some very important details" with Trump during their meeting.
"I'm sure you will do everything to stop this war," he told the U.S. president.
Russia has intensified its aerial campaign against Ukraine in recent months, even as fighting along parts of the frontline has slowed. At the same time, Ukrainian strikes on Russian military logistics and oil facilities have increased pressure on Moscow's war effort.
Foreign ministers meeting in Istanbul on Friday warned that renewed military strikes on Iran could deepen the regional conflict, urging diplomatic ...
Georgia’s Constitutional Court has extended hearings in a case seeking to ban five opposition parties, with proceedings now set to continue u...
Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to step up counterterrorism cooperation as security concerns over Afghanistan grow and tensions between...
Saudi Aramco has ordered staff to evacuate its headquarters amid escalating Houthi attacks on the kingdom. Two people were killed in an attack on Dammam airport, while Iran's IRGC Navy claimed strikes on seven vessels and warned the U.S. of a wider response.
Russian strikes on Ukraine overnight killed at least two people and injured 15 others, including two children, Ukrainian authorities said. Meanwhile, Russia said it had intercepted the vast majority of 630 Ukrainian drones launched towards Moscow.
Russia is willing in principle to resume peace talks with Ukraine and the United States in November, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said after President Vladimir Putin met U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Super typhoon Champi is set to batter Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture from Friday (23 October), bringing violent winds, torrential rain and waves up to 11 metres high, as airlines cancel flights and organisers scrap a major festival.
Armenian authorities have detained 10 more people in a vote-buying investigation involving the opposition Strong Armenia party, just two days before local elections in the northern town of Stepanavan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met India’s Minister of External Affairs in Baku for talks on strengthening bilateral relations, with a focus on trade, investment, energy and technology.
Israeli military bulldozers have begun demolishing buildings in the West Bank city of Hebron on Friday, 23 October, following armed clashes with Palestinians that left two Israeli soldiers dead, according to the Israeli military.
Greece’s parliament has passed a bill banning under-15s from using social media from 1 January 2027, as the country steps up efforts to protect children online. The new law will require platforms to enforce age restrictions.
France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Friday that 70,000 security forces would be mobilised throughout the country to keep order on Saturday, adding there have been calls for looting and violence from the ultra-left.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment