US Working to Find Available Patriot Missiles for Ukraine, Whitaker Says

The US is actively working with NATO allies to identify available Patriot missiles that can be transferred or sold to Ukraine, US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in an interview with Radio Liberty. Whitaker noted that Washington is utilizing the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL initiative to supply Patriot missiles to Kyiv and emphasized that solving the supply shortage requires expanding manufacturing capacity in both the US and Europe.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “I am working with all our allies to find available Patriot missiles that can be transferred or sold to Ukrainians,” Whitaker said. He added that Washington is exploring joint production opportunities with Ukraine and NATO allies, while noting that Kyiv is also developing its own interceptor capabilities. Regarding negotiations to grant Ukraine licenses to manufacture Patriot interceptors, Whitaker said US officials are working through complex export licensing and intellectual property details. “We are currently working through all the complex details regarding export licenses, companies that own intellectual property rights, and how exactly all of this could look in practice,” Whitaker said. Background of US-Ukraine Patriot talks US President Donald Trump said on Sept. 13 that Washington is discussing granting Ukraine a license to produce a less advanced version of Patriot interceptor missiles. Trump previously stated during a NATO summit in Ankara on July 8 that the US would authorize Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense systems. However, he walked back the commitment on July 31, saying discussions were continuing and citing the need to protect sensitive military technology. Other Topics of Interest Most NATO Allies Cannot Repel Russian Missile Attack, Latvia Says Most NATO countries could not repel a Russian missile attack if the war expands, Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs warns. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted in early September that constructing factories, setting up supply chains, and ramping up production in Ukraine would take years, meaning licensed production would not offer an immediate fix. Ukrainian Defense Minister Yevheni Khmara stated on Sept. 8 that Ukraine is working to secure approximately 1,000 Patriot missiles with support from allies and an EU loan. Kyiv has repeatedly urged partners to transfer interceptors from existing stockpiles while negotiations over domestic production continue. 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.