During a meeting at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, President Trump announced that the United States intends to grant Ukraine a production license to manufacture its own Patriot missile interceptors. This move addresses a significant request previously made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has sought to bolster his nation’s defense capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.
President Trump stated that his administration would facilitate the licensing process, though he noted that the manufacturers of the Patriot system—Lockheed Martin and RTX Corporation, formerly known as Raytheon—had not yet been officially informed of the decision. CBS News has sought comment from Lockheed Martin regarding the matter. The Patriot system, which uses some of the most advanced defense technology, has been key in thwarting Russia’s attacks.
“A little birdie told me this, about the fact that we’ll give them the right to make Patriots,” President Trump remarked. “We’ll show them how to do it, it’s very complex actually. But it’s—you’ll figure out the complexity quickly.” He clarified that while the U.S. will provide the license, there are no current plans to supply Ukraine with additional Patriot systems, citing domestic equipment requirements. “We’re going to give a license to you to make Patriots,” he clarified.
President Zelenskyy had previously advocated for these licenses during a May interview on CBS News’ “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” where he stated that increasing local production would be highly beneficial for both Ukraine and other nations the United States chooses to support. During Wednesday’s proceedings, President Trump also expressed a sense of sympathy for Russia, describing the situation as “tough” for the country, and indicated he plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin to ask when he intends to end the war.
The meeting underscored the complex history between the two leaders, which includes the 2019 phone call that precipitated Mr. Trump’s first impeachment and previous diplomatic tensions. Following the press conference, Mr. Trump took to Truth Social to characterize the meeting with President Zelenskyy as a positive step toward finding a solution to the ongoing conflict.
Updated on: July 8, 2026 / 11:22 AM EDT / CBS News
"That's a good question," Mr. Trump responded. "I don't think I've ever asked him that question. I'm going to ask him that question."
