Zelenski seeks license for Patriot production in Ukraine: 'We must protect lives'

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski called for the start of domestic production of Patriot air defense systems and missiles in the country, following a major Russian attack on the capital Kiev that claimed the lives of more than 20 people. In his speech, proposing joint projects with allied countries or establishing European production facilities on Ukrainian territory, he emphasized that given the high risks brought by the war, the only way to increase defense capacity and safely protect lives is to establish their own production.

In his statement on the X platform, Zelenski stated that license negotiations with the US Administration for the local production of Patriot systems are continuing, expressing that Russian President Putin intends to continue destroying homes instead of ending the war, and therefore the deficiencies in missile defense capacity must be urgently addressed. He detailed that Patriot batteries provided by Western allies and German-made IRIS-T systems are currently in Ukraine's hands, but due to the high cost of the ammunition used by these systems and the rapid depletion of stocks, a new search has begun.

The report highlighted the war started by US President Donald Trump and Israel against Iran as a critical factor affecting global defense stocks; it was stated that this conflict increased the demand for advanced air defense ammunition on a global scale and caused existing stocks to be used on other fronts, exacerbating the supply problem for Ukraine. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense admitted that intercepting ballistic missiles is becoming increasingly difficult due to dwindling Patriot missile stocks, announcing that intensive diplomatic traffic is being conducted to maintain current inventories and meet needs.

Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov reportedly contacted approximately 40 partner countries to request the urgent sending of Patriot missiles from their existing stocks, proposing previously agreed-upon future exchange packages in return. This diplomatic traffic laid bare how willing and urgent Ukraine is regarding alternative supply routes and production licenses to ensure the security of its airspace during a period when the war entered its fourth year and Russian attacks maintained their intensity.