US President Donald Trump indicated hesitation regarding Ukrainian production of Patriot missiles during an interview with the Financial Times, stating he was “not sure” about permitting the transfer of such advanced weapons technology. Trump emphasized the need for caution in determining which nations receive licensing agreements for the system. This position emerged following a recent White House meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where the Ukrainian leader discussed potential arrangements to establish domestic manufacturing of interceptors for Patriot air defense systems. Representatives from Raytheon, which manufactures Patriot systems, have already visited Ukraine, while Lockheed Martin, the producer of PAC-3 interceptors, was preparing to dispatch a team of technical experts to the country. Trump advisors Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were reported to be planning their first visit to Ukraine in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk visited the site of a missile explosion occurring approximately 50 miles from Poland’s border with Ukraine. Based on recovered debris analysis, Tusk indicated the projectile was likely a Russian KH-101 missile, though he stated no evidence suggested Poland was the intended target. Polish military forces were prepared to intercept the missile had it threatened populated areas. The explosion occurred during a significant Russian air campaign that resulted in 13 deaths in Ukraine. NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, General Alexus Grynkewich, reaffirmed the alliance’s commitment to territorial defense.
A Russian ballistic missile strike destroyed a Kyiv-based drone manufacturing facility owned by Terminal Autonomy, a Delaware-registered US corporation producing precision deep-strike drones equipped with jamming-resistant guidance systems. The strike appeared to mark the first instance of Moscow targeting a US-owned company during the conflict. Terminal Autonomy and Ukraine’s defense ministry did not respond to inquiries regarding the attack.
France’s interior minister defended an expulsion order against Russian commentator Xenia Fedorova, a former head of the Kremlin-funded RT network, asserting the action did not constitute censorship. Minister Laurent Nunez characterized Fedorova’s communications as pure dissemination of Kremlin propaganda and described the matter as concerning fundamental national interests. Nunez noted that similar viewpoints would continue circulating through certain French political figures. Fedorova’s legal representatives indicated plans to appeal the expulsion order.
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