President Donald Trump said Friday that the United States has not yet committed to allowing Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile systems under U.S. license, signaling a possible reversal on what Kyiv has viewed as one of its most important defense objectives in the war against Russia.

Speaking during a Cabinet meeting, Trump explained that the sophisticated Patriot technology is not something Washington can hand over lightly. He warned that any nation granted access to such advanced systems could eventually become a threat to the United States.

“You have to be very careful,” Trump said. He added that discussions with Ukraine are continuing and emphasized that the two sides are still “talking about it.”

Trump’s remarks came just three days after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. Following that meeting, Zelenskyy described the discussions as productive and said the two leaders had held a “good meeting” focused on securing licenses for Patriot missile production.

The latest comments appear to contrast with Trump’s position from less than three weeks ago, when he stated during the NATO summit in Turkey that the United States would provide Ukraine with the necessary licenses to produce the air defense system.

Further uncertainty emerged on Thursday, when Trump told the Financial Times he was “not sure” whether he would ultimately authorize Kyiv to manufacture the “extraordinary weapon.”

Ukraine has repeatedly argued that the Patriot system is essential to defending its cities from Russia’s ballistic missile attacks, with Zelenskyy describing it as a critical component of the country’s air defense strategy.

Following a phone conversation Friday with Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy said the licensing issue continues to be one of Ukraine’s most urgent priorities.

“We agreed that our teams will stay in touch and work through everything discussed today,” Zelenskyy wrote in an X post. “I thank the United States for its support of Ukraine and our people.”

{Matzav.com}