Trump signals support for Patriot production in Ukraine
US President Donald Trump says he may let Ukraine produce Patriot air defense missiles. Analysts welcome the move as a sign of support for the
US President Donald Trump says he may let Ukraine produce Patriot air defense missiles. Analysts welcome the move as a sign of support for the country — but warn it could take years before production begins. NATO members agreed a comprehensive military aid package for Ukraine totaling €140 billion at their recent Ankara summit. In addition, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump announced that he intends to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense missiles on its own soil. These missiles are crucial for defending the country against Russian ballistic attacks. It has been reported that Ukrainian Patriot missiles stockpiles are running low. Indeed, the Ukrainian Air Force was unable to shoot down a single Russian missile during the massive attack on July 6. The US intends to share its Patriot technology with Ukraine and grant it the right to produce the air defense missiles, Trump said. He also said the US was willing to provide any necessary support. Trump also said he wants to buy Ukrainian drones, marking a complete reversal in his attitude toward Ukraine's defense industry, which he had previously dismissed. Now, however, he praised the country's extensive drone manufacturing capabilities.
He called it "amazing" that Ukraine was still able to build drones "in a war situation." Ukrainian drone expertise is widely sought after, including in Europe, and numerous countries signed drone agreements with Ukraine at the recent Ankara summit. Patriot systems are highly effective at downing enemy missiles Image: Bernd Wüstneck/dpa/picture alliance A historic decision Ukraine would be the third country in the world — after Japan and Germany — granted the right to produce Patriot missiles. Going from political declarations to the actual production stage, however, will take years, says military expert Oleh Katkov, editor-in-chief of Defense Express, a Ukrainian media and consulting company. "That's really great, it's a historic moment," Katkov told DW. "But it's important to realize that a process like this doesn't take just a few days or weeks. Despite its industry, skills, and expertise, it took Japan two years from reaching the agreement to starting production. We are likely still only in the stage of the Ukrainian and US governments reaching a general political agreement." He told DW a government-level agreement needs to be finalized before defense contractors begin cooperation. Only then, Katkov said, will it be possible to negotiate with the US companies that hold the rights to the Patriot missiles.
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