Trump Casts Doubt on Ukraine Patriot Production License

US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether Washington will allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, retreating from a commitment he made to President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier in July. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump said the US had not approved the transfer of production licensees, although negotiations with Kyiv were continuing.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said, arguing that Washington must be “very careful” when sharing advanced US weapons technology. Trump said Zelensky was seeking both Patriot interceptors, which are defensive weapons, and long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles, which could be used to strike Russian military targets. “In the case of President Zelensky, he’d like to have some Patriots, he’d like to have some Tomahawks, which are lethal – one offensive, one defensive,” Trump said. The US president argued that countries receiving American military technology could eventually turn against Washington. “These people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you,” Trump said. “So we have to be very careful.” His remarks appeared to walk back the public commitment he made during the NATO summit in Ankara on July 8, when he told Zelensky that Ukraine would receive the right to manufacture Patriot interceptors. Other Topics of Interest Poland Summons Russian Ambassador After Cruise Missile Incident A Ukrainian fighter pilot tracked the missile to the border but broke off pursuit 20 seconds before it crossed into Polish airspace. “We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said at the summit, praising Ukraine’s ability to produce sophisticated weapons. Trump’s renewed hesitation came three days after Zelensky visited the White House and requested an emergency package of Patriot interceptors to protect Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure from escalating Russian missile attacks. Zelensky said after the meeting that the two presidents had discussed Patriot production licensees and other possible ways to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses. He also held talks with representatives of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, the US companies involved in producing Patriot interceptors. Patriot systems remain Ukraine’s one of the most reliable means of intercepting the ballistic missiles Russia regularly launches against Ukrainian cities. Kyiv views domestic production as essential to reducing its dependence on limited Western stockpiles and securing a sustainable supply of air-defense ammunition. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.