Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump has finalized a decision allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense missiles, addressing a critical shortage needed to counter Russian attacks. Kyiv faces urgent needs for 5% of U.S. stockpile to survive winter and 10% to neutralize Russian ballistic missiles.
Zelensky reported Trump made the final decision during a meeting on Sept 22, following months of uncertainty. Trump initially said it would be 'pretty cool' to grant licenses in July but later backtracked. Establishing production would take over a year, leaving Kyiv reliant on other allies for immediate needs.
Ukraine continues to face drone and missile threats, with attacks on Kyiv killing seven, including a 14-year-old boy. Zelensky emphasized the importance of Patriots as the only reliable system against Russian ballistic missiles, while Kyiv also works on its own anti-ballistic systems like Freya. Russia and the U.S. are exploring a trilateral meeting to end the conflict, with potential economic cooperation discussions.