Trump Approves Ukraine Production Of Patriot M!ssiles, Zelenskyy Says After Meeting US President
Trump Approves Ukraine Production Of Patriot Missiles, Zelenskyy Says After Meeting US President
The Ukrainian president also said the United States had proposed preparing a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia at the technical level.
United States President, Donald Trump, has given final approval for Ukraine to obtain licences to produce Patriot missile interceptors, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.
Zelenskyy disclosed the development while briefing journalists on the outcome of his recent meeting with Trump, saying the two leaders discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia as well as Ukraine’s military and financial needs.
According to Zelenskyy, their negotiating teams held a separate lengthy meeting after his discussion with Trump, with an agreement to brief European partners and continue engagement with Moscow through the United States.
“The Americans will speak with the Russians; and in ten days, we will come back with views and results in some shape or form,” Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president also said the United States had proposed preparing a trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, the US and Russia at the technical level.
He said Kyiv was waiting for Washington to propose a date, adding that the United States had suggested the United Arab Emirates as the venue.
The proposed meeting would mark another effort to revive diplomatic contacts over the war, with Washington seeking to facilitate negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.
Zelenskyy said Trump had also made what he described as a final decision on granting Ukraine licences to manufacture Patriot missiles.
“There are concrete agreements regarding Patriot licenses. At our meeting, President Trump stressed that he had made his final decision: Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot missiles,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought access to additional Patriot air-defence capabilities as it faces Russian missile and drone attacks. Kyiv had previously said it was working with the US on the possibility of producing Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine.
The issue was also discussed during Zelenskyy’s September 24 meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, according to the Ukrainian presidency, after a series of Russian ballistic attacks on Kyiv.
Zelenskyy also disclosed that Ukraine is facing a $27 billion state budget deficit, with a significant portion of the funding required for military production and supplies.
He said a third of the amount was needed to finance drones for January, February and March 2027 and warned that failure to place orders and make payments in October and November could create serious difficulties.
“Most of this money is for our drones, missiles, and supplies for our warriors,” Zelenskyy said.
He said the financing gap had been discussed with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine had received what he described as positive and constructive responses from its international partners.
He said the European Union and IMF were expected to continue supporting Ukraine, while some of the funding could be secured through the “Drone Deal” framework involving defence cooperation and co-production.
Zelenskyy said he had assigned Ukraine’s prime minister, together with the finance minister and the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, to work out the details.
He added that a follow-up meeting would take place either in Ukraine or Brussels.
The Ukrainian president also accused Russia of continuing what he described as an escalation through hybrid and drone attacks against European countries.
He said the attacks were not limited to NATO members, pointing to Moldova, Germany and Romania.
“Russia’s behavior, their choice, is to continue escalating,” Zelenskyy said.
He added that Ukraine had offered assistance to countries supporting Kyiv in the war, particularly through cooperation on drone technology.
According to Zelenskyy, the proposed “Drone Deal” would go beyond the sale of weapons and include co-production and the exchange of military experience.
“When we sign a Drone Deal, it is not only about selling drones or missiles. It is also about co-production and sharing experience,” he said.
The latest diplomatic push follows a September 22 meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The Ukrainian presidency said the two leaders discussed possible de-escalation measures and efforts that could open a path towards diplomacy, including strengthening Ukraine’s air-defence capabilities.
Zelenskyy had also said in an interview with Axios that the US was pushing for an energy ceasefire, reopening the Black Sea grain corridor and a possible trilateral meeting involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States, potentially in Abu Dhabi.
