Trump now 'not sure' about letting Ukraine build Patriot missiles

President Donald Trump has expressed uncertainty regarding the United States' agreement to permit Ukraine to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, a shift from his offer three weeks prior to grant the country the right to produce these weapons.

During a cabinet meeting on Friday, Trump stated, "We have not agreed to that. We're talking about it. But it's a hard thing to give away, that kind of technology." He emphasized the advanced nature of the weapons, adding, "These weapons are incredible. We have to be very careful about letting somebody build them."

Kyiv has consistently sought these missiles, recognized as among the world's most effective air defense systems, to safeguard its cities from Russian drone and ballistic missile assaults.

Trump voiced concerns about the long-term implications of sharing such technology, remarking, "I don't think this would ever happen, but, you know, those people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you."

He also informed the Financial Times that he was "not sure" about allowing Ukraine to build Patriot missiles and that "we're looking into it." The newspaper quoted Trump on Friday as saying, "It's a very extraordinary weapon, and. . . we have to be a little bit careful of who we licence to. We don't really licence equipment."

Trump further announced that his envoys, son-in-law Jared Kushner and former real estate magnate Steve Witkoff, would visit Ukraine in the coming days. He told the newspaper, "Very simply put, we want the war in Ukraine with Russia ended."

These recent comments from Trump about Patriot missiles follow his earlier offer to grant Ukraine the right to produce them. At a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump reportedly told Zelensky, "We are gonna give you a licence to make Patriots. I think they can produce them very quickly once we explain it."

Earlier this week, Trump hosted Zelensky at the White House, where discussions again revolved around Kyiv's desire for US assistance in strengthening its air defenses. While there was no official US confirmation of military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky later stated that Trump had agreed to provide Ukraine with licenses for domestic production of Patriot missiles. He told Fox News, "He accepted that he will give us licences." During the same visit, Zelensky also met with executives from Lockheed Martin, the US manufacturer of Patriot missiles.

On Friday, Zelensky posted on X about a "good" phone call with Vice President JD Vance, which served as a follow-up to his meeting with Trump. Zelensky wrote, "As Russia's air attacks on our country continue unabated, air defence – specifically Patriot interceptors against ballistic missiles – remains a top priority." He added that they agreed to "stay in touch and work through everything discussed today."

Ukraine's air force recently indicated that a scarcity of interceptor missiles was hindering its efforts to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. The Patriot system is one of the few air defense systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 1,000km (620 miles). A single battery can track up to eight targets simultaneously and detect over 100. Each Patriot missile is estimated to cost between $3 million (£2.2 million) and $5 million. Zelensky and the Ukrainian army have previously stated that Ukraine requires 25 Patriot interceptor systems.

Earlier this week, Zelensky condemned a Russian missile attack that killed five members of the same family as a "horrific crime." He shared a picture of the Voronov family on social media, identifying the deceased as parents Artem and Olena and their three children, Mark, Azariah Ilay, and Emilia, all killed when a missile destroyed their home. This incident was part of an overnight attack involving over 70 missiles and more than 280 drones launched by Russia.