U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that both Russia and Ukraine are interested in reaching a peaceful settlement, expressing hope for progress in negotiations in the near future. Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, the U.S. leader said he expects to hold another conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon and noted that he continues to maintain constructive dialogue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to Trump, both sides of the conflict are seeking a way to end the war that has been ongoing since February 2022.

At the same time, the White House announced a major decision regarding military-technical cooperation with Kyiv. The United States will grant Ukraine a license to produce interceptor missiles for the Patriot air defense system. Trump said the move is intended to strengthen Ukraine's air defense capabilities amid continuing large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks. He emphasized that the initiative concerns defensive weapons only.

According to available information, production of the interceptor missiles will most likely be established in a European country, particularly Germany, rather than in Ukraine itself. This approach is intended to reduce the risk of production facilities becoming targets of Russian strikes. The project is expected to involve the U.S. defense companies Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, as well as the European defense group MBDA.

 

Experts note that Trump's announcement reflects the continued adjustment of his administration's policy toward Ukraine. While emphasizing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, Washington is also demonstrating its commitment to strengthening Ukraine's long-term air defense capabilities. The initiative to localize Patriot missile production in Europe could become one of the most significant U.S. defense-industrial cooperation projects with its allies in recent years. At the same time, analysts warn that establishing new production lines, certifying technologies, and scaling up manufacturing will require considerable time. As a result, Ukraine will continue to rely on deliveries of ready-made Patriot interceptor missiles from existing U.S. and European stockpiles in the short term.

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09.07.2026 06:52