KYIV, Aug 1: US President Donald Trump has refused to approve Ukraine's request to domestically manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, though discussion on the matter is ongoing amid earlier indications that such a move could be authorised.
Trump's remarks came on Friday, days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had received permission to develop the missiles domestically to strengthen its air defences against Russia.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump said the United States must exercise caution before allowing another country to manufacture advanced American weapons.
"It's a big step," Trump said. "In the case of President Zelensky, he'd like to have some Patriots, he'd like to have some Tomahawks, which are, you know, lethal - one offensive, one defensive."
"We have not agreed to that. We're talking about it, but it's a hard thing to give away that kind of technology. You have to be very judicious, and you have to be very careful. I don't think this would ever happen, but there are people that you give that technology to; they can someday turn on you," he added.
During the NATO summit in T rkiye earlier this month, Trump said he was prepared to grant Kyiv a licence to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors to bolster its air defence capabilities. However, he has since appeared to have backed off from his commitment, despite hosting Zelensky at the White House.
Forming the backbone of Ukrainian air defence, the issue comes as Ukraine is running increasingly low on Patriot interceptors in face of a continuously advancing Russian assault, with Moscow intensifying its aerial campaign.
As such, Ukraine has long sought a co-production agreement for Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, arguing that domestic manufacturing would reduce its reliance on limited US stockpiles. Trump's earlier suggestion that Washington could approve such a licence caught many by surprise, prompting further discussions between Ukrainian officials, Pentagon representatives and US defence companies.
Those talks remain ongoing. Ukrainian Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna said on Thursday that Lockheed Martin, which manufactures Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, remains committed to expanding defence cooperation with Ukraine.
Lockheed Martin executives met Zelensky earlier this week, and the company is expected to send a delegation to Ukraine in the near future to continue discussions, she added.
(UNI)
