KYIV – A pledge by President Donald Trump to allow Kyiv to produce U.S. Patriot air defense missiles is a victory for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy but it could take at least a year to start producing them, defense experts say.

With its chronic shortage of interceptor missiles likely to continue until then, Kyiv faces tough choices over which targets are a priority to defend as Russia keeps pounding its cities and energy infrastructure.

Trump’s promise on Wednesday, when he met Zelenskyy during a NATO summit in Ankara, was a significant gesture of support that marked a huge improvement in their ​relationship since they clashed at the White House in February 2025.

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