Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that an agreement has been reached for Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense system interceptor missiles domestically, a deal facilitated by commitments from former President Donald Trump. The announcement came after Zelenskyy's meetings during the NATO summit.
Chrystia Freeland, an economic adviser to Zelenskyy and former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, described the approval for Kyiv to obtain a production license for Patriot interceptors as "really good news for Ukraine." However, she emphasized that while obtaining the license is a positive step, the time lag between the agreement and actual missile production could still leave Ukraine vulnerable.
"It would be even better if they were getting Patriots right now, because they're being hammered," Freeland told ABC News. "It's great to get the licenses. But between getting the licenses and actually being able to make the Patriot [missiles] to defend themselves, it's going to take time. And during that time, lots of people are going to die."
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned of critical shortages in air defense systems and ammunition needed to counter Russia's ongoing long-range strikes. In June, at least 265 civilians were killed and 1,816 injured in Ukraine, according to Rosemary DiCarlo, a senior United Nations official. This casualty total for June marked the highest since the initial months of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Zelenskyy stated on social media platform X that he and Trump "reached an important deal on licenses to produce Patriot systems. Our teams are now working to implement this truly historic political agreement. We worked toward this for a very long time."
Freeland suggested that Trump's support for Ukraine could be influenced by the nation's performance on the battlefield. "Trump does like a winner. He is not averse to flip flops. And I do think the stronger Ukrainians are the more likely they are to get his support," she said.
The NATO summit in Ankara concluded with a joint communique affirming allies' support for Ukraine's security and territorial integrity, pledging approximately $80 billion in allied funding for Ukraine across 2026, with 2027 funding expected to be at least equivalent. Freeland noted that European allies have demonstrated a strong commitment to continued support, exceeding some expectations.
Ukraine's ability to conduct strikes deep within Russia, particularly targeting oil facilities, has increased significantly in scale and intensity. These operations, increasingly using domestically produced weapons, mean Ukraine no longer needs permission from partners regarding strike locations, a shift Freeland highlighted as impactful.
Despite battlefield successes and increased international backing, Ukrainian cities remain under frequent attack. The war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, follows a lower-intensity conflict that started in 2014. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported in February that the country had lost at least 55,000 soldiers killed since 2022.
While Ukraine continues to seek a clear roadmap for NATO membership, it remains a distant prospect in the short term. Nevertheless, Freeland observed a growing sentiment among European leaders who believe Russia should not hold veto power over NATO expansion and that Ukraine, possessing one of Europe's strongest armies, should be a member.
Negotiations for a potential peace settlement remain stalled, with Russia demanding significant Ukrainian concessions and President Vladimir Putin refusing to engage directly with President Zelenskyy. Freeland described the current situation as one where "Ukrainians are doing well ... Russia is suffering more than it has since the beginning of the war."