Ukraine currently has no permits from its Western allies to independently manufacture modern air defense systems or ammunition for them. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about this in an interview with the BBC.
He emphasized that this issue remains one of the most critical for the survival of the state. The head of state confirmed that despite requests, Ukraine has not yet reached an agreement in negotiations on licensed production even for those systems that are already in service.
"Today, air defense is the most difficult issue. Unfortunately, our partners have not yet granted licenses for us to produce, for example, Patriot systems or at least missiles for the systems we already have. So far, we have not succeeded in this," Zelenskyy stated.
The President emphasized that reliable air defense is not only a matter of the frontline, but also the foundation for the functioning of the entire country. In his opinion, a secure sky directly affects the stability of the economy and the state's ability to finance the army.
"Everything is clear: close the sky. If civilians are protected, we have our backs, people work, children are in schools, the economy is working, there is money, there are taxes that go to the front. This is how we strengthen the army. Unfortunately, this is not yet the case. We need licenses at least for missiles," the head of state summarized.
We would like to remind you that earlier President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the United States ultimately did not agree to transfer licenses for the production of anti-aircraft missiles, although Ukraine offered various options for localizing production - from its own territory to NATO countries.
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