Trump: US must be 'very cautious' about allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles

Former U.S. President Donald Trump advised significant caution on Friday concerning Ukraine's potential production of Patriot air defense missiles. He emphasized that the United States must exercise extreme care before permitting any country to manufacture these sophisticated weapons.

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These are incredible weapons. We must be very cautious about letting anyone build them.

"These are incredible weapons. We must be very cautious about letting anyone build them," Trump told reporters at Camp David. His remarks come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Trump at the White House earlier in the week. Zelenskyy had suggested following their meeting that Trump had agreed to grant Ukraine a license for Patriot missile production.

However, Trump offered a more reserved account of their discussion, stating only that "many things were discussed" and that the meeting "went very well." Relations between the two leaders have reportedly improved since the start of Trump's second term. Earlier this month, Trump had suggested that Ukrainian strikes within Russia could help end the war.

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many things were discussed

According to United Nations data, last month was the deadliest for Ukrainian civilians since April 2022, as Russia increased its use of ballistic missiles that are difficult to intercept. This context highlights Ukraine's urgent need for advanced air defense capabilities.

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the meeting went very well