Ukraine's Gains at NATO Summit: US License for Patriot Manufacturing and €140 Billion from NATO

SadaNews - President Donald Trump announced that his country would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missiles, while NATO committed to providing €140 billion ($160 billion) in aid to Kyiv during a meeting held in Ankara.

Trump said during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit that his country would grant Kyiv a license to manufacture Patriots, adding that "things will go well."

In the context of his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, Trump stated, "We are ready to close the skies over Ukraine if necessary," while also considering that Kyiv's strikes deep into Russian territory are "escalatory, but could contribute to ending the war."

"Putin and Zelensky Are Tough"

However, the US president indicated that both sides of the ongoing war in Ukraine wish to reach a settlement, while acknowledging that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky were "tough. "

For his part, Zelensky - who has repeatedly requested US-made interceptor missiles - expressed his desire to discuss "some very important details" with Trump, addressing his US counterpart, "I am sure you will do everything you can to stop this war."

Ukraine is facing difficulty intercepting Russian ballistic missiles as its stock of Patriot missiles, the only weapon in Ukraine's arsenal capable of downing ballistic projectiles, diminishes due to their high speed and steep trajectory.

Ukraine's Priorities

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiga stated on the sidelines of the NATO summit that enhancing air defense capabilities is a priority for his country, considering that the summit holds significant importance for both Ukraine and NATO member states.

Sybiga explained that strengthening Ukraine's air defense systems is one of the top issues discussed by Kyiv with representatives of participating countries at the summit, adding that his country expects clear decisions from allies in this regard.

In this context, NATO leaders gathered in Ankara pledged to provide €140 billion in military assistance to Ukraine over the years 2026 and 2027.

They added in a final statement that they will provide €70 billion in 2026 in the form of military equipment, aid, and training programs for Ukraine, and also affirmed their sovereign commitments to maintain similar levels at least during 2027.

For his part, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized on the sidelines of the summit the continuation of his country's support for Ukraine, warning that "it is now up to Russia alone to end this war."

"No Chance for Russia"

While Merz considered that "the sooner we end this war, the better for Europe, for Russia, and for world peace," he said, "We will do our utmost today again to achieve this goal, and we send a clear message to Moscow: Russia has no chance of winning this war."

Moscow has intensified its air war on Ukraine over the past few months, as its ground advances have largely stopped, but Ukrainian attacks on Russian military logistics and the oil sector have caused widespread fuel shortages within Russia.

It is worth noting that Russia has been conducting a military assault on Ukraine since February 24, 2022, demanding that Kyiv abandon joining Western military entities, which the latter considers an "unacceptable interference" in its internal affairs.

Source: Agencies