



President Trump told reporters aboard his plane that Ukraine could receive a license to produce Patriot missiles, but only a 'less sophisticated' version, months after Zelenskyy's urgent May letter warning of a critical air defense shortage. Secretary of State Rubio confirmed talks were underway in early September, though Washington has reportedly worried about sensitive technology leaking to Russia, with one proposed compromise having Ukraine build components for assembly in Germany.
This follows Trump's own reported refusal in August of a request for several hundred Patriot interceptors, citing limited U.S. stockpiles amid Middle East commitments, even as EU officials pushed member states to transfer their own Patriot stocks to Kyiv. Meanwhile the European Commission has reportedly approved a 90 billion euro loan enabling Ukraine to purchase Patriots directly, and Britain has pledged 100 million pounds toward air defense this winter.
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