US President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times that the Washington administration has not yet decided on granting Ukraine a production license for Patriot air defense missiles. Trump maintained the uncertainty on the issue, saying, 'I'm not sure.'
Describing the Patriot as 'a very extraordinary weapon,' Trump said that licensing such advanced technology defense systems requires careful consideration. This statement dampened the optimistic expectations that had emerged from Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week regarding licensed production.
The ability to produce Patriot missiles locally is becoming increasingly critical for Ukraine in the face of Russian ballistic missile attacks. These systems play a key role in protecting major cities and infrastructure as one of the few platforms capable of intercepting advanced missiles.
While Trump did not clarify the license issue, he reiterated that his administration's main priority is to end the war. 'We are seeking peace,' Trump said, confirming that senior representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff will travel to Ukraine in the coming days.
As diplomatic contacts continue, military activity on the ground also persists. According to AFP, a Ukrainian attack overnight caused a fire at a Wildberries logistics facility in the Russian city of Volgograd. Kyiv accuses the company of supporting the Russian military by supplying components used in drone production.
Meanwhile, Russia's latest missile and drone attacks have caused civilian casualties. According to the Associated Press (AP), civilians were killed in several regions, while pressure increased on Ukraine's dwindling stocks of Western-supplied air defense missiles. During the same wave of attacks, a Russian missile briefly entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO aircraft to scramble.
Trump's remarks show that Ukraine's plan to expand its defense industry capacity remains uncertain at the intersection of defense efforts against ongoing missile attacks and attempts to end the war.
