Trump grants Ukraine Patriot missile production licenses

President Trump has authorized Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense missiles, a decision confirmed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following their meeting in New York this week. This license grant aims to address Kyiv's urgent need to counter Russian ballistic missiles. The Patriot is a leading medium-to-long-range air defense system, and global stocks are under unprecedented pressure due to the Ukraine war and Middle East conflicts. Zelensky estimates Ukrainian production could begin within one to one and a half years, though U.S. officials note this is not an immediate solution. This decision follows earlier negotiations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirming talks in September. Zelensky had previously discussed the licenses with Trump in July, when the U.S. president expressed caution about the move.