Following Russia’s latest large-scale attack, Zelensky said his government has been pushing for U.S. permission to license Patriot interceptor production. He framed the request as a core air-defense priority, arguing that Europe and Ukraine need their own production capacity to protect cities and critical infrastructure from ballistic missile strikes, not just continued deliveries under existing support programs.

Zelensky said discussions with the Trump administration on Patriot production licenses have been under way for some time, and he expects a positive response after the meeting and consultations surrounding the G7 and NATO-related talks. He also linked the proposal to a broader push for Europe to build sufficient self-defense capabilities against ballistic missile threats.

Separately, some commentary around the proposal has focused on the practical timeline and the security implications of allowing licensed manufacture of complex U.S. interceptor technology in Ukraine—especially given how fast Ukraine’s air-defense shortages are unfolding—while supporters argue that domestic or jointly partnered production would help close the gap in the long run.