Zelenskyy says Trump backs licences for Patriot missile production in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says US President Donald Trump is “positive” about licensing the production of Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine, after the two leaders met in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Zelenskyy told reporters the licensed production of the missiles was the main topic of the meeting and that he had asked Trump to help Ukraine move quicker on the issue. “He is positive with licenses,” he said, adding: “We will start this project.”

He cautioned that he did not know whether setting up production would take a year or longer. Ukrainian outlets reported that US defence contractor Raytheon was ready to move forward and that production could take about a year to 18 months once licences are granted.

The two leaders also discussed an energy ceasefire. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure if Moscow stopped attacking Ukrainian energy and water infrastructure, and said he was prepared to meet Vladimir Putin if Trump organised a trilateral meeting to try to end the war.

Trump has not publicly confirmed the licensing position; the account is Zelenskyy’s.

Sources

• NHK World (23 Sept 2026): “Zelenskyy: Trump positive on licensed missile production”
• Hromadske (23 Sept 2026): “Trump backs license for Patriot missile production in Ukraine, Zelenskyy says”
• United24 Media (22 Sept 2026): meeting and press-conference details
• Censor.net (23 Sept 2026): RTX cooperation talks and timeline