Ukraine to get licence to produce Patriot missiles, Trump says

July 8, 2026

President Trump announced at a NATO summit in Ankara that the US would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles, bypassing the need to deplete America's limited stockpile further. The decision comes as Ukraine faces intensified Russian ballistic missile strikes that recently killed over 20 people, with Ukrainian air defenses failing to intercept any of the 23 missiles fired in one recent attack due to severe ammunition shortages. While Trump suggested Ukraine could produce these sophisticated defense systems quickly, Ukrainian military experts expressed skepticism about domestic production capabilities, suggesting manufacturing would more likely occur on European soil due to security concerns and technical complexity.

Who is affected

Ukrainian civilians (dozens killed in recent Kyiv strikes, over 20 died in Sunday's attack)
Ukraine's military and government forces
President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian leadership
US defense manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Raytheon
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian military forces
NATO allies participating in the Ankara summit

What action is being taken

Russia is increasing ballistic missile strikes on Ukraine, firing hundreds of drones nightly
Russia fired 23 ballistic missiles on Sunday night
Ukraine is launching long-range strikes on Russia, hitting targets thousands of kilometers from the frontline
Ukraine is conducting drone strikes on Russian refineries and Moscow
Trump is speaking often with Putin
Trump is attempting to broker talks between Kyiv and Moscow

Why it matters

This matters because ballistic missiles represent Russia's "last major advantage" in the conflict, traveling at high velocity on steep trajectories that make them extremely difficult to intercept. Ukraine's severe shortage of interceptor missiles has left the country vulnerable, with none of the 23 ballistic missiles in a recent attack being shot down, resulting in significant civilian casualties. Licensed production could provide Ukraine with sustainable access to these critical defense systems worth $1 billion per battery, though the US itself faces stockpile constraints after using over half its Patriots in its earlier war with Iran. The ability to produce Patriots could fundamentally shift Ukraine's defensive capabilities after four-and-a-half years of war.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article beyond Trump's indication that he still needs to inform Lockheed Martin and Raytheon of his decision and his continued attempts to arrange talks between Zelensky and Putin.

Read full article from source: BBC