The United States is persistently advancing negotiations with Ukraine regarding the authorization for the production of interceptor missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems, even after President Donald Trump questioned such an agreement. This is reported by Reuters, citing four informed sources.
Sources indicate that the discussions include a scenario where Ukraine would manufacture certain components for final assembly elsewhere in Europe.
Kyiv is seeking to acquire as many of the newer PAC-3 type interceptor missiles for its Patriots as possible. This is one of the types of weapons capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, which are being launched in increasing numbers.
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Earlier, on August 1, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Ukraine’s stockpiles of Patriot interceptors were depleted and that only one out of 27 Russian ballistic missiles had been shot down that day.
In July, during a meeting with Zelensky in Ankara, Trump stated that the US would grant a license for the production of PAC-3 interceptors. However, it appears the US President changed his stance last week after meeting with Zelensky at the White House. Two sources described that meeting as difficult.
In particular, Trump told reporters that the US had not allowed Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles and that the States needed to be “very careful about licensing the production of them.”
According to three sources, Zelensky’s requests for the production of Patriot interceptors in Ukraine were largely rejected by Washington due to the ongoing war and security concerns expressed by US industry leaders and military officials.
A fourth source noted that US Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, is currently leading the efforts to finalize an agreement and visited Kyiv last month to discuss the issue and assess options with Ukrainian officials and defense industry leaders.
“There has been no order to cease discussions,” one source stated.
According to this source, negotiations are continuing with US arms manufacturers, military officials, and other parties.
The White House has declined to comment on this matter.
Four sources added that the options currently being considered involve the production of Patriot components in Ukraine and their shipment to Germany for final assembly. This would integrate Ukraine into the existing US-European program for developing Patriot interceptors and allow Ukraine to create a more cost-effective version of the PAC-3 missiles.
Whitaker’s spokesperson reported that he used his visit to Kyiv in July to “explore opportunities for cooperation on battlefield innovations, such as drones, that would be beneficial to the US military.”
Conversely, a senior official from the Trump administration revealed that the US is “exploring several potential avenues for future defense industrial cooperation with Ukraine.” This official added that any agreement must prioritize the security of American technologies.
It is asserted, however, that even if Ukraine manages to secure a deal for Patriot interceptor production, it will not begin receiving new missiles for a year or even longer. Ukraine will need other missiles to address its urgent needs. Currently, Ukraine is strongly urging its allies to provide some of their existing stocks.
Former Ukrainian Ambassador to the US, Olga Stefanishyna, stated last week that Kyiv is exploring the possibility of a long-term purchase of PAC-3 interceptors and arranging supply exchanges with other countries to acquire interceptors more quickly. According to her, the manufacturer Lockheed Martin is fully involved and is working on sending a team to Ukraine in the near future.
Licenses for Patriot missile production – top news
As UNIAN reported, Ukraine had previously requested a license to produce Patriots during the presidency of Joe Biden but did not receive approval.
In July, it was reported that the US had initiated the process of issuing a license to Ukraine for Patriot missiles.
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