Trump Offers Ukraine License to Build Its Own Patriot Missiles

President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the United States will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture its own Patriot air-defense missiles during their meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara Wednesday.

“We’re going to give a license to you to make Patriots,” Trump told Zelenskyy. “This way you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough. Make them yourself.”

“This way you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough. Make them yourself.” — President Donald Trump

The offer came as the two leaders met on the summit’s sidelines, hours after Ukraine reported one of its deepest strikes yet inside Russia.

Pressed on what security guarantee the United States would offer Ukraine, Trump said Washington would act “to save lives” but stressed the distance between the two countries. “Ukraine’s very far away. We have an ocean separating us,” he said.

Trump also pointed to a U.S. economic interest in the country. Washington holds “a little stake” in Ukraine, he said, because “we have some land in that country where we have minerals.”

He praised Ukraine’s prospects, saying its “brainpower” could rebuild the country once the war ends.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, prompted by Trump to address Ukraine’s deep strikes inside Russia, said the campaign had shifted the war. “The Russians are finding it more difficult to defend their own airspace,” Rubio said, adding that Washington hopes the pressure will “create the space now to negotiate the end of this war.”

Trump framed the strikes as a turn that could push both sides toward talks. “It’s an escalation, but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end,” he said.

Trump said Putin had proposed meeting in Moscow. “President Putin said, ‘I would love to meet in Moscow,’” he told reporters. “I have to put myself in his position. I don’t know that he’d go to Moscow. Maybe he would.” He then turned to Zelenskyy and asked, “Would you go to Moscow?”

“It’s difficult,” Zelenskyy said. “There are a lot of Ukrainian drones there — it’s too dangerous.”