The US does not plan to transfer the production of Patriot missiles: Ukraine will receive assistance from the reserves of allies

The United States does not plan to conclude a long-term agreement on the joint production of missiles for Patriot air defense systems by this winter. Instead, Ukraine will receive the necessary air defense assets from partners’ reserves and increased production at American enterprises.

This was stated on Fox News by Matthew Whitaker, the US permanent representative to NATO.

According to him, work on cooperation between Ukraine, the US and European partners in the field of air defense production is ongoing, but an agreement on the joint production of PAC-3 missiles is not expected in the near future.

“We do not allow anyone but American manufacturers to produce these missiles,” Whitaker emphasized, commenting on the PAC-3 missiles, which are used to intercept ballistic missiles.

He noted that negotiations on individual projects in this area are continuing and are in line with the agreements reached during the meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and the US in Washington, as well as his negotiations with representatives of the Ukrainian authorities.

According to the American diplomat, the main priority remains to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense as soon as possible. For this, they plan to use two mechanisms: transferring missiles to Ukraine from existing stocks of partner countries and increasing production at American defense enterprises.

At the same time, Whitaker emphasized that the conclusion of a long-term agreement on the production of Patriot missiles is not expected before the beginning of this winter, so the main efforts will be focused on the operational provision of Ukraine with the necessary air defense means.