Former President Donald Trump has indicated that Ukraine would be allowed to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors under license, a development Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said would strengthen the nation's air defense capabilities. Trump stated that while the U.S. produces its own drones, Ukraine has a capacity to produce many of its own.
David Blagden, an associate professor of international security and strategy at the University of Exeter, described the agreement as a "win for the Ukrainian government." He noted that Ukraine has faced critical shortages of air defenses, and the ability to produce these interceptors domestically could provide a significant advantage in countering Russian ballistic missile attacks. "Ukraine was suffering from critical shortages of air defenses, so to be able to build some of the best air defenses under license will potentially be a huge advantage in terms of trying to blunt those Russian ballistic missile attacks," Blagden told TIME.
Trump also commented on his relationship with Zelensky, noting a strengthening rapport since their previous meeting in the Oval Office. "We've actually developed a good relationship, it's hard to believe, right from the Oval Office to now," Trump remarked. Zelensky expressed gratitude for the emphasis on bolstering Ukraine's air defenses, stating it would better protect lives.