Trump says US to let Ukraine produce Patriot air defense systems

ANKARA — U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States will grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems.Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the United States would provide Ukraine with the know-how needed to produce the advanced air defense system domestically.”We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said. “I think they can produce them pretty quickly.”The announcement represents a policy reversal, as Washington had previously resisted allowing foreign production of the Patriot system, which Ukraine has repeatedly requested since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.Trump also struck a markedly warmer tone toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following their meeting on the sidelines of the summit.”We’ve actually developed a good relationship. It’s hard to believe,” Trump said, adding that he believes an agreement to end the war is within reach and that the United States would “work on some kind of security package” for Ukraine.He praised Zelenskyy’s wartime leadership, saying the Ukrainian president had “done an amazing job” and had been “very effective” during the conflict.Patriot systems are among the world’s most advanced air defense platforms and have been critical to Ukraine’s efforts to intercept Russian ballistic missiles and other aerial attacks.Earlier in the day, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised the recent U.S. strikes on Iran following Tehran’s reported attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.”I think what you did last night was absolutely necessary,” Rutte told Trump. “It was a very strong response, and I’m with you on this.”Trump said he considers the interim agreement with Iran effectively over, although he indicated diplomatic talks could continue.”For me, I think it’s over,” he said. “It’s just a waste of time dealing with them.”The summit also focused heavily on defense spending, with European allies and Canada seeking to demonstrate progress toward NATO’s target of spending 5% of GDP on defense and related security investments.In a declaration issued after the meeting, NATO leaders pledged to provide Ukraine with $80 billion in military assistance over this year and next, citing the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security.