US and Ukraine negotiate production of Patriot systems, Rubio says factories could take years

Washington and Kyiv are in talks over granting licenses that would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defense systems. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations were ongoing but stressed that such an agreement would not have an immediate impact on the front.

During an interview on “The Brian Kilmeade Show,” Rubio said the agreement between the United States and Ukraine “is being negotiated as we speak.”

He explained that granting Ukraine a license would not be enough to launch production quickly. According to him, establishing industrial capacity and building the necessary factories would take several years. “Increasing production, even if you have a license, is something that takes several years to build these factories,” Rubio said.

Ukrainian forces are facing a shortage of air defense systems. For this reason, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked allies for additional equipment and missiles to protect the country’s cities and infrastructure.

Donald Trump said in July that he had agreed to grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriot missiles. But several weeks later, he reversed that pledge.

Support for Ukraine is also increasing among its European partners. The United Kingdom has submitted plans that could pave the way for Ukraine to produce long-range missiles, while France has accelerated deliveries of its most advanced equipment and missiles.