Trump denies additional air defense missiles, but Patriot negotiations continue - media

The United States is continuing negotiations on the production of Patriot interceptor missiles with Ukraine's participation, although President Donald Trump denied Volodymyr Zelensky the transfer of hundreds of additional missiles due to limited US stocks, and he also has doubts about localization in Ukraine.

According to Reuters, the parties are considering an option in which individual missile components would be manufactured in Ukraine, with final assembly taking place in another country in Europe. The course of the consultations was reported to the agency by four sources familiar with the discussions.

Kyiv insists on production localization due to an acute shortage of interceptors for Patriot systems. The missile shortage leaves Ukrainian cities vulnerable to Russian attacks ahead of winter, during which, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia will continue massive shelling.

According to the Financial Times, during the White House meeting, Trump also did not agree to transfer hundreds of additional Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. He explained this by limited American stocks and the need to protect facilities of the US and its allies in the Middle East.

During the NATO summit in Turkey in July, Trump told Zelensky that the US would allow Ukraine to produce the interceptors. However, the American president later said the matter is still being studied, as Washington is cautious about issuing licenses for such weaponry.

Even after possible license approval, the production launch would require several years. US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker noted that a long‑term production agreement would not help provide Ukraine with additional missiles this winter.

Zelensky called on partners who are not yet ready to increase the supply of air defense missiles to tighten sanctions against producers of Russian ballistic missiles and related companies.

According to: Reuters, Financial Times