US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air defense missiles on its own soil. Analysts welcome the move as a sign of support but warn that actual production could take years to materialize.

The announcement came after NATO members agreed on a comprehensive military aid package for Ukraine worth €140 billion at the Ankara summit. Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and revealed the plan to allow Ukraine to manufacture the critical air defense systems.

Patriot missiles are vital for Ukraine's defense against Russian ballistic attacks. Reports indicate that Ukrainian stockpiles are running low, with the air force failing to intercept any Russian missiles during a massive attack on July 6.

Trump also praised Ukraine's drone manufacturing capabilities, calling it 'amazing' that Ukraine can build drones under war conditions. He expressed US interest in purchasing Ukrainian drones, marking a reversal from his previous dismissive attitude toward Ukraine's defense industry.

Military expert Oleh Katkov, editor-in-chief of Defense Express, noted that transitioning from political declarations to production takes years. He cited Japan's example, which required two years from agreement to production. Currently, only a general political agreement exists between the US and Ukrainian governments.

Oleksandr Khara, director of the Centre for Defence Strategies, expressed concern about potential hidden conditions, such as expecting Ukraine to make concessions to Russia. Political analyst Ihor Reiterovych called the agreement more symbolic, serving as a warning to Russia about future Ukrainian capabilities.

The Ankara summit notably avoided discussion of Ukraine's potential NATO membership. Experts attribute this to Trump's opposition to Ukraine joining the alliance, which has effectively sidelined the issue despite Ukraine's strategic goal of membership.

Source: www.dw.com