Zelenskyy says Trump made 'final decision' to give Ukraine Patriot licence

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed on Friday that US President Donald Trump had granted Ukraine the licences to produce advanced Patriot air defence missiles. This followed a series of reversals on the issue. Kyiv is currently facing a severe shortage of these missiles, which are the only reliable defence against Russia's ballistic missiles.

Speaking to journalists, Zelensky confirmed that Trump had made a "final decision." However, he noted that while Ukraine would receive the production licences, establishing industrial capacity to meet immediate needs would take over a year. The Ukrainian president reiterated his calls for urgent support as the country prepares for the upcoming winter and anticipates potential Russian strikes against its power and heating infrastructure.