According to the Ukrainian newspaper 'Kiev Independent' reported on July 23, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a delegation led by Joseph DeAntonio, vice president of Raytheon Company of the United States. The two sides plan to jointly produce 'Patriot' anti-missile systems for interception.
Zelenskyy stated that Thunderstorm Company is willing to elevate their cooperation to a new level. "Ukraine will work together with Thunderstorm Company to produce one of the most critical air defense systems, the 'Patriot' anti-missile interceptor. Our government and private enterprise teams will keep in contact to discuss the details."
Zelenskyy added that during the NATO summit held in Ankara, Turkey, in early July, he discussed this issue with U.S. President Trump.
"Patriot" Anti-missile System: Photo
Trump said on the 8th that he told Zelensky at the NATO summit: "We will give you permission to produce ‘Patriot’ weapons. That's cool, so you won't be able to complain about what we’ve given you. It’s a defensive weapon, and I prefer such weapons over offensive ones."
However, former U.S. ambassador to Russia Michael McFarlane believes that allowing Ukraine to produce ‘Patriot’ interceptor missiles is a significant progress in U.S-Russia cooperation. However, this does not meet Ukraine’s immediate needs. He pointed out: ‘Ukraine needs interceptors now; we cannot wait for future production.’
The American newspaper The New York Times also reported that the manufacturing process for the "Patriot" anti-missile system is complex. Even if Ukraine receives approval, it will take time to produce the missiles. It is likely that Trump's policy will not take effect for several years. The report also noted that if a "Patriot" missile factory is built within Ukraine, it will inevitably become a target that Russia will prioritize attacking.
