Ukraine Secures U.S. Patriot Missile License, Says Former Foreign Minister Kuleba

Former Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba told Foreign Policy that U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the NATO summit in Turkey that Ukraine will receive a license to produce Patriot air‑defence missiles. The licence aims to reduce a key vulnerability in Ukraine’s air‑defence system, though Kuleba stressed it is not an immediate aid package.

Kuleba said Kyiv has been learning from the United States and its allies on how to build an ecosystem of offensive drones, which it has used in recent strikes deep inside Russian‑occupied territory. He added that Ukraine’s strategy toward Trump is to “appease, make offers, accept what Trump offers” while silently continuing to decouple from Washington’s broader policies.

The interview also referenced a past Oval Office meeting where President Trump reportedly told President Zelensky, “You don’t have the cards.”