Trump grants Ukraine license to build Patriot missiles, Zelensky says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday that Donald Trump told him the U.S. will grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically. Zelensky said Trump confirmed the "final decision" during their meeting at the UN General Assembly in New York, where they also discussed potential de-escalation steps. Kyiv has long sought the license, arguing the interceptors are vital for defending against Russian ballistic missile strikes. Observers note that domestic production would take months or years to establish, making it a strategic long-term solution rather than an immediate fix. Trump had previously promised the license at the 2026 NATO summit but later backtracked, citing concerns about sharing sensitive technology.