US refuses to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles over technology leak fears

The Telegraph reports that Washington has refused to transfer to Ukraine a license to produce missiles for Patriot air defense systems, fearing that the technology could end up in Russia’s hands.

Earlier, on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, US President Donald Trump promised to hand Kyiv the relevant license, assuring that the Ukrainian side would be able to begin missile production “fairly quickly.” However, he subsequently walked back on his promise, citing, among other reasons, that the technology could be used against the United States itself. Trump officially announced the refusal on August 1, noting that the American side likely does not intend to transfer a Patriot production license to any other country in general, although the matter had previously been raised.

A source close to the US president told the newspaper that the Trump administration has information about instances in which weapons transferred to Ukraine ultimately ended up on the black market. Retired General Phil Breedlove, who previously headed US European Command and served as Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO forces, explained that such information “does genuinely concern the [Trump] administration.”

“I do believe there is a concern that if we give this technology to Ukraine, it will somehow get to Russia,” he added.

The Telegraph notes that US legislation provides for measures that could prevent weapons technology from “going out of” US control. At the same time, producing Patriot missiles would require Ukraine to obtain not only blueprints but also equipment, software, and “expert knowledge.” An unnamed senior British official, speaking to the newspaper, described these constraints as one of the key factors that influenced the US decision.

The New York Times had previously reported that the technology transfer would require defense companies Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to work with the Ukrainian side, and that the project itself could take months or years. The outlet also noted that any Patriot production facility in Ukraine would become a target for Moscow.

Russia condemns any assistance to Kyiv. The Kremlin has repeatedly stated that weapons supplies and funding for the Ukrainian military only prolong the conflict.