Trump says US has not agreed to let Ukraine build its own Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles, reversing Turkey pledge
Trump says the US has not agreed to let Ukraine build its Patriot PAC-3 interceptors, reversing an earlier Turkey pledge. At Camp David he said the US must be careful handing over that tech. Ukraine wants domestic PAC-3 output to counter Russian strikes. Lockheed Martin $LMT make
President Trump said Friday that the United States has not agreed to let Ukraine build its own Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles, reversing an earlier pledge he made during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey earlier this month. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump said Washington needs to be careful about transferring that manufacturing technology, noting a country given access to it could eventually turn it against the United States. Ukraine has been seeking a co-production agreement for the PAC-3 interceptor, the missile that has proven most effective at shooting down Russian ballistic missiles targeting Ukrainian cities. A domestic production line would reduce Kyiv's dependence on US supply and shipping timelines during an active war. Ukrainian ambassador Olha Stefanishyna said this week she remains confident Lockheed Martin $LMT, the PAC-3's manufacturer, is committed to deepening cooperation with Ukraine despite the White House's reversal on licensing. The uncertainty leaves Ukraine's plan for a domestic interceptor supply chain unresolved while Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities continue.