Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on Thursday with a U.S. company that makes Patriot air defense systems, after President Donald Trump gave him the green light to cooperate with the United States on their production.
Zelensky said they discussed how Ukraine could co-produce Patriot interceptors, a powerful U.S. military tool Kyiv views as vital to fend off Russian ballistic missile attacks, with aerospace and defense company Raytheon. The Ukrainian president said he had discussed the idea with Trump at the NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month. Teams from the government and private sector “will stay in close touch” to work out the deal, Zelensky added, noting that other areas of partnership regarding non-offensive military equipment were also discussed.
“Raytheon is a very strong defense company, and Ukraine has long been using its equipment to protect our people from vicious Russian attacks,” Zelensky said.
“I am grateful for the company’s readiness to take our partnership to an even higher level, where Ukraine would co-produce, together with Raytheon, some of the most vital air defense assets — Patriot interceptors … it’s time we moved forward on this,” he continued. “Thank you to the United States for its support for Ukraine.”
The development comes after Trump said in Turkey that he would grant Ukraine a license to produce its own PAC-3 Patriot missiles, after the U.S. for years provided the Eastern European country with the weapons for use in its fight against Russia.
“This way, he can’t complain that we’re not giving him enough. I said, ‘Make it yourself,’” Trump said in Ankara, referring to Zelensky, noting that he had yet to inform Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the weapons system.
Zelensky said Friday that missiles for the Patriot systems are a “top priority” for Kyiv, as the war stretches toward the 4.5-year mark.
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“It is important that our partners clearly understand where their responsibility lies and how they can support us – support the protection of lives in Ukraine and our resilience,” he wrote in a post to X. “Missiles for the Patriot systems are the top priority, and our agreements must be implemented promptly. I expect swift diplomatic work from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and everyone involved in relevant communications.”
The Patriot missile defense system is a highly effective mobile surface-to-air missile and air defense system designed to intercept ballistic missiles and other threats. While the U.S. has sent Ukraine Patriot interceptors and missiles, the shipments tend to stoke controversy due to concerns about reduced stockpiles and how expensive the weapons are. Each interceptor missile alone costs a couple of million dollars.