Trump Backs Ukraine Air Defenses After Zelensky Talks

President Donald Trump signaled a significant shift in U.S.-Ukraine relations on Wednesday after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey, announcing new defense cooperation as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its position in the war with Russia.

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Trump said the United States would purchase Ukrainian-made drones and approved plans for Ukraine to co-produce Patriot missile interceptors under a U.S. license. The move, if implemented, could bolster Ukraine's long-term air defense capabilities against continued Russian missile attacks.

New Support Announced at NATO Summit

The announcement marks a notable change in Trump's approach to Ukraine. Throughout the Biden administration, he frequently criticized U.S. military aid to Kyiv and publicly urged Zelensky to consider territorial concessions as part of a negotiated settlement with Russia.

Speaking to reporters alongside Zelensky, Trump said relations between the two leaders had improved considerably since their widely publicized Oval Office confrontation in February 2025.

"We've actually developed a good relationship," Trump said. "From the Oval Office to now, I think we've developed a very good relationship."

Relations Improve After Earlier Tensions

Asked whether the United States would transfer additional Patriot interceptors directly to Ukraine, Trump said U.S. stockpiles had been reduced following military operations against Iran.

Instead, he said Washington would authorize Ukraine to manufacture the interceptor missiles under license.

"We're going to give a license to you to make Patriots," Trump told Zelensky, adding that he still needed to notify the manufacturer but expected the arrangement to proceed.

Lockheed Martin, which produces Patriot interceptors, already faces a substantial backlog of international orders, with production priorities determined by the Pentagon. It remains unclear how quickly Ukraine could establish domestic production facilities.

Ukraine Seeks Stronger Defenses

For several years, Zelensky has urged Western partners to allow Ukraine to co-produce Patriot systems, which play a critical role in defending against Russian ballistic missile attacks.

Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukraine following successful Ukrainian operations targeting military facilities and energy infrastructure inside Russian territory.

Trump appeared to endorse Ukraine's strategy of carrying out strikes beyond its borders, describing it as an escalation that could ultimately help bring the conflict to an end.

"It's an escalation, but it's also an escalation that could help lead to an end," he said.

Support Welcomed by Ukraine and U.S. Lawmakers

The announcements were welcomed by Ukrainian officials and some U.S. lawmakers attending the NATO summit.

Luke Coffey, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, said many had expected Ukraine to receive limited attention because of divisions within the alliance, but noted that several concrete decisions were announced that could influence the battlefield.

Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, said expanding cooperation on Patriot missile capabilities reflected a shared commitment to protecting Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. She added that Ukraine had demonstrated its ability to develop advanced defense technologies and that closer industrial cooperation would strengthen broader transatlantic security.

The proposals also received bipartisan backing in Washington. Senator Jeanne Shaheen urged Trump to finalize plans to purchase Ukrainian drones.

Shaheen joined a bipartisan congressional delegation at the NATO summit that also included Senators Dick Durbin, Mike Rounds, Lindsey Graham, Chris Coons, and Representative Mike Turner. After meeting Zelensky, the group said Russian President Vladimir Putin faced growing domestic pressure from attacks on energy infrastructure, international sanctions and the economic strain of the war.

Trump, who last spoke with Putin by telephone on July 4, said he still believed the Russian leader wanted to negotiate an end to the conflict and expected to speak with him again.

"We have a lot of pressure on President Putin," Trump said. "I don't think he likes what's going on. There's a lot of pressure on President Putin to get it done."

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9 July 2026