Zelensky: Trump agreed to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles

Vladimir Zelensky announced that Donald Trump has agreed to grant Ukraine a license to produce interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems.

The Ukrainian president made the announcement at a briefing following his meeting with Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22.

“We approached Trump with a request. He agrees to issue a license. And God willing, we will launch this project in a year to a year and a half,” Zelensky said.

He also added that even with domestic production, Ukraine would still need to import Patriot missiles.

A long road to a decision

The announcement marked another turn in a drawn-out process. Trump first expressed readiness to provide Ukraine with a Patriot production license at the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7. However, on July 30 he walked it back, telling reporters at a cabinet meeting that they had “made no such agreement.” On September 13, Trump suggested that Ukraine might only receive a license for a “less sophisticated version” of the system.

Ahead of the bilateral meeting, Trump told reporters that the Patriot issue would be on the agenda, but made no promises.

“We’re going to be talking about that now… Very capable in manufacturing. Amazingly capable people,” he said.

Following the talks, Zelensky made optimistic statements. He told reporters that Raytheon was ready to establish Patriot missile production in Ukraine, and described Trump’s position on licensing as “positive.” In a post on X, Zelensky called the discussion “positive” and “productive,” adding that the missiles could help protect Ukrainian lives if Russia continues its “ballistic missile terror” during the winter.

Speaking earlier on Tuesday, Zelensky said he had “not heard the word ‘no'” from Trump on the license question — a cautious formulation reflecting the uncertainty that had accompanied American commitments on Patriot production throughout the summer.

The broader context of the meeting

The Patriot talks took place against the backdrop of broader efforts to end the war before winter. Trump told the press that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready to meet for peace settlement negotiations, adding that the conflict could be resolved “faster than people understand.” Both leaders expressed a desire to halt hostilities before the cold sets in, when Russian strikes on energy infrastructure pose a heightened threat to Ukrainian civilians.

According to Reuters, Zelensky also pressed Trump for an energy ceasefire with Russia, as both sides continue to strike each other’s energy facilities — despite a brief agreement announced by Trump in early September. Trump, for his part, expressed displeasure over Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries, which he said are driving up fuel costs worldwide. His approval ratings had by that point hit record lows amid a sharp rise in diesel prices.