Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed U.S. President Donald Trump has given final approval for Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense missiles. The decision follows a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, where Trump emphasized the finality of the decision. The move is critical as Ukraine faces a shortage of air defense munitions, particularly Patriots, which are the only effective means of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
Zelensky reported that Trump made the final decision during their Sept 22 meeting, confirming Ukraine will receive licenses to produce Patriot missiles. The agreement comes as Kyiv faces a critical shortage of air defense systems, with the U.S. having paused large-scale defense funding to Ukraine since 2025. The White House has not commented on the issue, leaving the details of production capacity and timing unspecified.
Ukraine is seeking $27 billion in additional financial support this year for defense, with Zelensky stressing the need for more investment in Ukrainian-made drones and missiles. The country also requires over $52 billion in international aid next year for social and humanitarian spending. A second IMF review of Ukraine's financing program is expected in November, with Kyiv needing a plan in place to fund next year's budget.