Ukraine Needs More Patriots Now, Says Top US Lawmaker — But New Missile Deal Is Years Away
Ukraine is gaining momentum on the battlefield but urgently needs more Patriot missile interceptors and stronger air defenses to stop Russia's escalating attacks, says a top US lawmaker. However, a newly signed missile deal between Trump and Zelensky could take years to implement, leaving a critical gap in Ukraine's defense.
A senior Republican lawmaker, Rep. Michael McCaul, is calling for deeper US-Ukraine defense cooperation, including licensed production of Patriot systems in Ukraine and joint development of drones [194271]. McCaul argues that sustained military pressure offers the best path to bring Russia to the negotiating table [194271].
But a separate plan to license Patriot missile systems for Ukraine could take years to implement, according to experts. “These things aren't like flipping on a light switch,” one expert told ABC News [194137]. The process involves complex legal, technical, and diplomatic steps, including export approvals, training for Ukrainian crews, and integration with existing military systems [194137].
The urgency is underscored by a leading defense scholar who says Ukraine cannot both build Patriot air defense systems and continue long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries within a year [193953]. Marc DeVore, who chairs two expert groups advising the UK defense ministry, asked both panels whether Ukraine could build Patriot systems in a year. Both groups answered no [193953].
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reached a major agreement on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara. The deal focuses on the production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile interceptors [193834]. The PAC-3 is a top-tier “hit-to-kill” air defense missile that destroys incoming threats by directly colliding with them [193834]. Both leaders described the deal as a significant step in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, though the agreement includes a condition whose exact terms were not disclosed [193834].