Trump Says U.S. Will License Patriot Missile Production to Ukraine

Why it matters locally: While the immediate impact of this federal policy decision on New York is indirect, the meeting itself occurred in Trump Tower in New York, bringing a high-profile international discussion to the state.

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Former President Donald Trump stated the United States will grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missile defense systems. Trump made the announcement during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Trump Tower in New York. "We will give you the license to produce it yourselves," Trump told Zelenskyy. The former president emphasized that the licensing would allow Ukraine to manufacture the systems within its own borders. Zelenskyy’s visit to the United States included discussions with American officials and aims to secure continued support for Ukraine. The Patriot system is an advanced surface-to-air missile system used for defending against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and advanced aircraft. Ukraine has previously received Patriot systems from the U.S. and its allies.