Patriot from the USA and license to Ukraine, Trump’s vague promise agitates Russia

The incoming missiles and the agreement on the Patriots

“In the next few days – explained Kiev’s number one, speaking to the press following the NATO summit in Ankara – we will receive a package of Patriot missiles from the United States. We have also reached separate agreements with the Europeans”.

The Ukrainian president he commented in particular on the agreement with the American president on the granting of licenses to produce Patriots in Ukraine. “Now it is very important that our technical groups, all our representatives from different ministries and the executive branch, start working tirelessly so that Ukraine receives licenses as soon as possible and starts production,” he explained.

Trump’s (vague) promise and the unknowns

Trump’s promise however, it was vague, because the president did not specify whether Kiev will be authorized to produce Pac-2 or Pac-3, missiles with far superior capabilities. Trump himself then admitted that he had not yet informed the manufacturing companies (Lockheed Martin and Rtx Corporation, formerly Raytheon) of the decision announced to Zelensky on Wednesday. The availability of the crucial components for the production of the interceptors and the timing of the opening of an entire supply chain of these components to Ukraine which will then have to open a factory, a tempting target for Moscow’s forces, which will therefore have to be protected by Patriot batteries to be stolen elsewhere, are also unclear.

Each interceptor missile for the Patriot system costs about three million dollars. And until recently, the United States produced no more than 60 per month50 according to analysts. For them, and for the allied countries, in Europe and in the Gulf. Adding to the doubts about the actual possibility of the transfer is the objective risk that the Russians will appropriate the technology of the system that the United States has so far authorized only Germany and Japan to produce. The subcontractors who supply missile components, ignition and thrust control systems, such as solid fuels, guidance systems, to the large missile manufacturers are always the same, as research by the Center for Strategic and International Studies concluded.

Ukrainian companies such as Fire Pont, the manufacturer of some drones and Flamingo cruise missiles, has brought forward a program for the production of an anti-missile defense system at reduced costs and has started negotiations with European producers for the supply of complex components, starting from an agreement already signed with the German Hensoldt, for the acquisition of advanced radars. Fire Point has already begun churning out missiles for use once guidance systems have been acquired.

Moscow’s accusations against the USA

Meanwhile, the Kremlin considers Trump’s statement at the Ankara summit as “an illusion” by the United States. Believing that an escalation of hostilities in Ukraine contributes to bringing closer a peaceful solution to the crisis, said the spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, in a press briefing, is “an erroneous position”. “Intensifying tension and actions leading to escalation will not contribute in any way to the peace process” and the United States has an “ambiguous” position, Peskov said.

According to the spokesperson, the West “simulates” its willingness to negotiate a solution to the conflict in Ukraine, while at the same time issuing “public ultimatums” to Russia.

“We have outlined our assessment of the current situation around Ukraine, including the actions of the West which, pretending to be ready for negotiations, has now moved, as announced by the Europeans, to publicly address ultimatums to the Russian Federation,” Lavrov said, quoted by Tass.