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Trump backtracks after promises to Zelensky about Patriot missiles. “We have to be a little careful,” he suddenly says after earlier promises.
U.S. President Donald Trump has suddenly become cautious about the commitment to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense missiles. On Thursday, he told the Financial Times that he is “not sure” whether the plans will go ahead. “It’s a very special weapon, and we have to be a little cautious about who we grant a license to,” Trump said. This is striking because earlier this week, the deal still seemed to be a done deal. After a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, Zelensky said Tuesday evening that Trump had agreed to the production of Patriot interceptors in Ukraine. According to Zelensky, the two leaders also discussed resuming peace negotiations with Russia.
Local production is seen as the solution
The timing is sensitive. Ukraine is grappling with dwindling stocks of Patriot missiles, while Russian airstrikes continue. Kyiv views local production as essential to maintaining its air defense capabilities and reducing its dependence on unreliable foreign supplies. During the NATO summit in Ankara in early July, Trump surprised allies by publicly holding out the prospect of a license: “That way, you can’t complain anymore that we’re not giving you enough.” Butthat enthusiastic tone nowappears to have been tempered. In his conversation with the FT, Trump emphasized that the U.S. also desperately needs the missiles itself, partly due to the escalation with Iran in the Middle East. Analysts also point out that the production of Patriot interceptors is technically complex and expensive, and that transferring sensitive technology carries the risk of leaks to Russia.
Trump sends his envoys to Kyiv
Trump did announce that his envoys, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, will visit Ukraine for the first time in the coming days. The trip is seen as a test for the resumption of diplomatic talks on a possible peace agreement with Moscow. For Zelensky, this turn of events presents a delicate diplomatic challenge. He called the earlier commitment a “major victory, ” but must now contend with a U.S. president who makes promises publicly while putting the brakes on behind the scenes.
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