© picture alliance / NurPhoto | Beata Zawrzel
U.S. President Donald Trump has told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States will grant Ukraine permission to manufacture its own Patriot air defense systems to defend itself against Russian attacks.
“That way, you can’t complain that we’re not giving you enough,” Donald Trump told Volodymyr Zelensky at the start of a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara.
“Let’s say, ‘Make them yourselves,’” Trump said. “We haven’t informed the company there yet, but it’ll work out.”
Currently, the advanced anti-ballistic air defense systems are manufactured by the American defense contractor Raytheon.
During the conversation with Zelensky, Trump struck a clearly more conciliatory tone than in previous meetings between the two presidents. Trump also stated that Ukrainian attacks on Russia—which are primarily targeting energy infrastructure—could “help” change the course of the war.
The statement released following the NATO summit also notes that European NATO member states and Canada have committed to allocating 70 billion euros for “military equipment, assistance, and training for Ukraine.” They also commit to “providing the country with assistance of at least the same magnitude by 2027.”
Picture: © picture alliance / NurPhoto | Beata Zawrzel