CAMP DAVID, Maryland, US President Donald Trump said the United States has not approved Ukraine’s request to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors, although discussions on the proposal are continuing.
Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David on Friday, Trump stressed that Washington must exercise caution before sharing advanced American military technology.
“We have not agreed to that. We’re talking about it, but it’s a hard thing to give away that kind of technology,” Trump said.
Trump noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested additional US military systems, including Patriot air defense missiles and Tomahawk missiles.
He said the United States must be “very careful” about allowing another country to manufacture sophisticated missile technology.
“You have to be very judicious, but you have to be very careful. There’s people that you give that technology, they can someday turn on you,” Trump added.
During a meeting with President Zelenskyy in Turkey earlier this month, Trump had indicated that Washington was prepared to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot PAC-3 missile interceptors domestically to strengthen its air defenses against Russian attacks.
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However, his latest remarks suggest the administration has become more cautious about moving forward with such an agreement.
Ukraine has repeatedly requested permission to manufacture Patriot interceptors, arguing that domestic production would help address persistent shortages of air defense missiles as Russia intensifies ballistic missile attacks.
Patriot systems remain the only weapons currently available to Ukraine capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
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Despite Trump’s comments, discussions between Ukrainian officials, the Pentagon, and US defense companies are continuing.
Ukrainian Ambassador Olha Stefanishyna said this week that Lockheed Martin, the manufacturer of the PAC-3 interceptors, remains committed to expanding cooperation with Ukraine. She added that company executives recently met President Zelenskyy and are expected to visit Ukraine in the near future to continue discussions.
