On the sidelines of the G7 summit in Évian, France, a significant meeting of leaders took place, setting the tone for future negotiations on military aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump to discuss critical security issues, specifically the supply of Patriot air defense missile systems.
A Positive Signal from Washington
According to the Ukrainian leader, Donald Trump responded positively to Kyiv's request for additional missiles for Patriot systems. During the conversation, Zelenskyy emphasized that the American leader was constructively minded, although a final decision was not publicly announced at that time.
“First of all, he was very positive about the fact that they can help us more with missiles. And this is indeed a big challenge because production is not as large as our needs. Production is in the United States,” noted the President of Ukraine.
When directly asked by journalists whether Trump's “positive” stance meant actual agreement, Zelenskyy answered affirmatively: “Yes, he was positive. And I hope that when President Trump is positive, it means 'yes'”.
The Issue of Licenses and Localization
A key point of discussion was not only the direct supply of weapons but also the possibility of expanding production. Zelenskyy raised the issue of licenses necessary to launch missile production.
“I raised the issue of licenses. I addressed this to President Trump. We need licenses to produce missiles,” stated the head of the Ukrainian state.
Zelenskyy emphasized his knowledge of the technical details of the issue, noting that he had repeatedly discussed the complexity of producing Patriot systems with the leadership of the American corporation Raytheon. “I am deeply involved in this topic. But in any case, we want to increase their production if they are ready and if President Trump supports this idea,” he added.
Strategic Necessity
Patriot systems remain one of the top priorities for the Ukrainian air defense system. These complexes are capable of effectively intercepting both cruise and ballistic missiles, which is critical for protecting civilian infrastructure.
Previously, back in December 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Kyiv had requested licenses for Patriot production from the US. At that time, Washington did not refuse but also did not give a specific answer. According to Ukrainian estimates, the country requires an additional 12–15 Patriot systems or similar air defense complexes for full-sky protection.