Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that former US President Donald Trump responded positively to Ukraine’s request for additional missile supplies and licenses for domestic production. Zelensky made these comments during an online conversation with Reuters editor Alessandra Galloni at the Reuters NEXT conference in London.
“He (Trump) was very receptive to the idea of helping us with additional missiles. This is a significant issue, as production volumes do not meet our needs. Manufacturing is concentrated in the United States,” Zelensky stated.
“The response was positive. I hope that if President Trump speaks favorably, it means ‘yes.’ We have the necessary capabilities. I understand that producing Patriot systems and their missiles is a complex process. I have had numerous meetings and phone calls with Raytheon and its leadership. I am well-versed in this topic,” he added.
Zelensky emphasized Ukraine’s ambition to initiate its own missile production, contingent on cooperation from the company and support from Trump.
“Currently, he has responded positively. In any case, we must move in this direction,” he said.
Furthermore, Zelensky pointed out the necessity for Ukraine and Europe to develop a robust missile defense system. He stressed that such a system must be more affordable than current alternatives, as financial constraints could hinder capabilities.
“Otherwise, Europe will lack such systems. The same goes for the Middle East. I cannot speak for Asia, as I am unaware of their situation. However, I am well-acquainted with the needs of the countries I work with personally. This is why it is an important alternative we will work on,” Zelensky remarked.
In related discussions, on October 6, Trump indicated that he had made a preliminary decision to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles. He expressed a desire to avoid escalation and wanted clarity on the intended use of the missiles before finalizing any decision.
Earlier, US Vice President Jay D. Vance confirmed that Washington was considering supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, but the final decision rests with Trump.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga noted that the two presidents discussed lifting any restrictions on weapon supplies to Ukraine during their meeting at the UN General Assembly.
On October 8, Zelensky confirmed that Trump had not rejected the request for Tomahawk missiles during their meeting at the White House on August 18.
On October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that if Kyiv received these cruise missiles, Moscow would respond by strengthening its air defense systems.
On October 13, Trump stated that the US might send Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Putin did not pursue a resolution.
During a phone call on October 16, Trump and Putin discussed the potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Trump noted that Putin was not in favor of supplying these missiles to Ukraine.
On October 17, Zelensky met with Trump in Washington, where they discussed the provision of Tomahawk missiles for the Ukrainian armed forces. In an interview with NBC News, Zelensky mentioned that Trump neither agreed nor disagreed regarding the Tomahawk supply.
By October 23, it became clear that the US had not approved the delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, citing a need for six months to a year of training to operate them effectively.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a positive response from former President Trump regarding missile supplies and production licenses. Discussions also included the potential provision of Tomahawk missiles, amid concerns over military capabilities and regional security.