Kellogg suggests why Trump changed his mind on Patriot production licenses for Ukraine
Photo: Keith Kellogg, former US Special Envoy for Ukraine (Getty Images)
The promised deal to grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems has run into the business interests of major US defense companies, Keith Kellogg, former US Special Envoy for Ukraine, said in an interview.
Why the air defense deal is being delayed
Kellogg said the delay in granting Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot systems was linked to concerns from the companies that produce them, including Lockheed Martin, over the transfer of their intellectual property.
He noted that on July 8, US President Donald Trump told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the license would be provided. However, three weeks later, Trump said that no agreement had been reached yet.
Ukraine’s capabilities and Kellogg’s position
The general stressed that he considered such a purely business-driven decision by defense companies to be wrong, arguing that Ukraine was capable of implementing technological solutions more efficiently.
Kellogg said he supported the idea of Ukraine producing the systems because he believed Ukrainian companies could work faster and potentially develop better new solutions, adding that Ukraine should be given the opportunity.
He also said he planned to discuss the issue personally with the US president after completing his visit to Ukraine.
Kellogg said that once he returned, he would have an opportunity to speak with Trump and explain what he believed the president should do. He added that he thought Trump had listened to certain people, which he considered unfortunate.
Cooperation with allies
Ukraine continues to expand cooperation with Western partners in the areas of air defense and long-range weapons.
In particular, Ukraine’s Defense Forces recently received an additional batch of missiles for Patriot air defense systems, as well as Crotale systems and AIM missiles.
At the same time, Kyiv is working to localize the production of precision weapons directly in Ukraine.
The United Kingdom and France have already officially approved plans to grant Ukraine licenses to manufacture Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles.
