The President of the United States, Donald Trump, announced this Wednesday that he will grant Ukraine the necessary authorization to begin producing Patriot missiles, responding to Kyiv's main demand in a context marked by supply shortages and a new wave of Russian attacks against the Ukrainian capital.
"We are going to grant you a license to manufacture Patriot missiles," Trump told Zelensky during the meeting they held on the sidelines of the NATO summit taking place these days in Ankara, Turkey.
Trump highlighted the capabilities of the Ukrainian Army and expressed his confidence that, despite the "complexity" of producing this type of weaponry, the authorities in Kyiv will know how to manage it. "Most countries would not be capable, they do not have the necessary talent. You have very talented people," stated the occupant of the White House.
Regarding the Ukrainian president, Trump praised his "impressive work," although he qualified that it has been largely possible due to Washington's military support. "He has had the best team, he has had our team, but someone has to use that equipment, and you have many brave people who are using it," he pointed out.
At the same time, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that the long-range Ukrainian attacks recorded in recent months constitute "one of the dynamics that have changed in this war," as Russian forces now face greater difficulties in protecting their own airspace."
In recent months, Zelensky has reiterated his request to the United States to be able to manufacture Patriot missiles on Ukrainian territory, in a scenario where the country's Armed Forces are facing serious problems in supplying their anti-aircraft defense systems, given the impossibility of their allies to fully meet these needs.