US grants Ukraine final approval to produce Patriot missiles

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US President Donald Trump has made a final decision to allow Ukraine to produce advanced Patriot air defense missiles.

In a voice message sent to journalists, Zelensky said Trump conveyed the decision during their latest meeting. Following this, Ukraine will receive the licenses needed to manufacture the missiles on its own soil.

Trump had earlier said in July that granting such permission would be appropriate, but the US later adopted a more cautious stance on the matter.

The Patriot system is considered effective at intercepting Russian ballistic missile strikes, but Kyiv has been facing a shortage of such missiles. The shortage of Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine has grown worse since the US and Israel's war with Iran in February.