Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday said several technical issues still need to be resolved with the United States before Ukraine can begin manufacturing Patriot air-defence missile systems domestically.
His remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump announced that Washington would grant Kyiv a licence to produce the advanced air-defence missiles, marking a significant shift in US military support for Ukraine.
“And now, after our agreement with the president, our teams… must agree on all the remaining technical aspects,” Zelenskyy said during a WhatsApp briefing while responding to a question about the Patriot systems.
Trump made the announcement on Wednesday during his meeting with Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the Nato summit, saying the US would allow Ukraine to manufacture the Patriot missiles under licence.
The proposed arrangement is expected to help Ukraine strengthen its air-defence capabilities as it continues to face sustained Russian missile and drone attacks. Kyiv has repeatedly sought additional Patriot systems and the ability to produce them domestically, citing dwindling interceptor stocks and the growing need for faster replenishment.
While the political agreement has been announced, Zelenskyy’s latest remarks indicate that negotiations are now focused on finalising the technical framework required to transfer production capabilities to Ukraine. No timeline has yet been announced for the start of manufacturing.
The Patriot air-defence system is considered one of the most effective platforms for intercepting ballistic missiles and has become a critical component of Ukraine’s air-defence network during the war with Russia.
With inputs from agencies
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