Trump: Ukraine may get license for 'less sophisticated' Patriot missiles

Asked whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could secure a Patriot production license from the United States, Trump gave a brief answer: "A less sophisticated version."

On Sept. 2, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was in talks with Ukraine over granting licenses to produce Patriot missiles.

In late May, Zelenskyy sent an urgent letter to Trump and Congress warning of a critical shortage of air defense systems in Ukraine. Trump later said that in that letter, Zelenskyy had asked him for a license to produce Patriot missiles.

In July 2026, Trump said it was possible he would grant Kyiv such permission, but later expressed doubts about the decision. According to media reports, Washington is concerned about the risk of sensitive technology leaking to Russia. One compromise option under consideration would have Ukraine manufacture individual missile components, which would then be physically assembled in Germany.

Ukraine's air defense missile shortage

On Aug. 5, the Financial Times reported that Trump had turned down a request from Zelenskyy for several hundred Patriot interceptor missiles, citing limited U.S. stockpiles due to Washington's own needs in the Middle East.

On Aug. 13, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas appealed to all EU member states holding Patriot missile stockpiles to transfer them to Ukraine. On Aug. 24, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he planned to travel to the United States in September, alongside other EU leaders, to urge Trump to give Ukraine access to American interceptor stockpiles ahead of winter.

On Aug. 25, Zelenskyy said Ukraine had already received a small shipment of Patriot missiles, AIM missiles for NASAMS systems, and confirmation regarding several Crotale air defense systems and their missiles.

On Sept. 7, Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne reported, citing an unnamed EU official, that the European Commission had approved Ukraine's application to purchase Patriot missiles using a 90 billion euro ($103.9 billion) loan.

On Sept. 8, it was reported that the United Kingdom would allocate 100 million pounds ($134.8 million) to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses this winter. The military aid package will include missiles for Patriot systems.