Speaking from the Camp David presidential retreat, Trump acknowledged the exceptional effectiveness of the defence systems but emphasized that Washington must thoroughly evaluate any authorization allowing a foreign nation to manufacture them.

The comments follow statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who claimed after a White House meeting earlier in the week that Trump had consented to license the production of Patriot missiles to Ukraine. While Trump characterized their discussions as successful, he stopped short of a direct confirmation, noting only that "many things were discussed."

These high-level talks coincide with an escalation in long-range missile and drone strikes by both sides following the stall of US-led diplomatic initiatives to resolve the conflict. Relations between Trump and Zelensky have warmed noticeably since the start of Trump's second term, with the US leader recently hinting that Ukrainian military actions inside Russian territory might help force an end to the war.

Meanwhile, the United Nations reported that the preceding month was the deadliest period for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, driven heavily by an increase in Russian ballistic missile deployments.