Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham in Kyiv during the senator’s tenth visit to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed government officials and defense industry leaders to begin the practical implementation of domestic Patriot air defense missile production, following political agreements with the United States on licensing the system.  

According to Zelenskyy, technical teams should immediately launch work on establishing production capabilities, describing the project as a strategic priority for strengthening Ukraine’s air defense against continued Russian missile and ballistic attacks. He emphasized that the country must move beyond political agreements and focus on concrete implementation.  

The initiative follows recent U.S. commitments to provide Ukraine with licenses to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles or related components. While the agreement marks a significant step toward expanding Ukraine’s defense industry, experts note that establishing production lines, transferring technology, and training personnel could take 18 months to several years before the first domestically produced systems become operational.  

Zelenskyy said local production would not only strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend its cities from Russian ballistic missile attacks but could also contribute to the long-term security of European allies by expanding the supply of advanced air defense systems.