US unlikely to sign Patriot missile co-production deal with Ukraine before winter, envoy says

The United States is unlikely to finalize a long-term agreement with Ukraine to jointly manufacture interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems before the upcoming winter, according to US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker.

Speaking in an interview with Fox News, Whitaker stated that while negotiations over Patriot technology remain unresolved for the immediate future, Washington continues to collaborate with Kyiv and European partners on manufacturing other types of air defense equipment.

Ukrainian officials have consistently sought expanded Western assistance to bolster domestic defense manufacturing, particularly to shield critical energy infrastructure against potential Russian airstrikes during the colder months. Despite the delay regarding Patriot systems, allied efforts to strengthen Ukraine's overall air defense capabilities remain ongoing.

Sources: MIA (Media Information Agency), Sloboden Pečat