Zelensky Seeks Patriot Production Licence as Trump Hosts Kyiv and Jerusalem Leaders
White House meetings coincide with funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, as Kyiv pushes for domestic interceptor manufacturing despite supply constraints
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Washington for high-level talks with US President Donald Trump, seeking to convert earlier verbal support into firm commitments for bolstering Kyiv’s anti-ballistic missile defences. The visit comes at a critical juncture in the conflict, with Moscow reporting over 390 drone strikes against the capital overnight, underscoring the urgency for advanced interceptors.
A central objective of Zelensky’s agenda is to advance a licence for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically. While US manufacturer Raytheon has expressed readiness to elevate its partnership with Kyiv, the proposal faces significant hurdles. Co-producing the sophisticated PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors on Ukrainian soil involves a lengthy political, legal, and technical process, complicated by existing supply shortages driven by concurrent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.
The diplomatic schedule in the US capital is further complicated by the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump is scheduled to meet Netanyahu at the White House for the first time since the onset of conflict with Iran in late February. Both Zelensky and Netanyahu are in Washington to attend the funeral of US Senator Lindsey Graham, who died this month aged 71.
Tensions between Kyiv and Tehran have intensified, with Zelensky describing Iran as a direct accomplice to Russian aggression. The Ukrainian leader cited intelligence suggesting Russia has shared satellite imagery with Tehran, enabling attacks on US military facilities and Gulf states. Trump stated he would verify these claims with Vladimir Putin, though he maintained that such cooperation would have no impact on US policy.
Regional diplomatic friction is also evident, with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev recently suggesting a freeze on the conflict to return to the Istanbul formula for negotiations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the idea, stating that freezing the war is currently impossible given Kyiv’s position. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin told the Duma that Russia’s enemies were using terrorist methods against civilians but insisted the Russian people would never break.
