Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday that he met with senior representatives from the U.S. company Raytheon, which manufactures the Patriot air defense system, to discuss potential joint production in Ukraine.
"Our teams — both at the government level and from the private sector — will stay in close touch to work (it) out," Zelenskyy stated via social media, signaling a desire to expedite the process. Ukraine has been seeking increased and faster deliveries of Patriot systems to counter ballistic missiles used by Russia in its ongoing invasion.
Raytheon has not yet commented on the meeting. The Patriot system comprises radars, command-and-control units, and various interceptor missiles. Experts and Ukrainian officials have previously cautioned that establishing production capabilities within Ukraine could take several years.
The discussions follow a pledge made by U.S. President Donald Trump less than three weeks prior to grant Ukraine a license for Patriot production. This pledge represented a notable shift in Trump's recent stance toward Zelenskyy.
In related diplomatic engagements, Laura Loomer, a political figure often aligned with Trump, met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv. After a period of downplaying the invasion, Loomer has recently voiced criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin's missile attacks on Ukraine.
Ukraine has been developing its own air defense capabilities, but large-scale production is considered vital for its defense strategy. The country has also expanded its drone attacks within Russia, targeting logistical hubs and industrial facilities, reportedly causing fuel shortages and increasing pressure on Russian leadership. Ukrainian forces have recently struck warehouses belonging to Wildberries, Russia's largest online retailer, as well as an oil facility and a military plant.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday that its air defense systems intercepted 571 Ukrainian drones overnight.