Business interests and concerns of defense companies are the main obstacles to the transfer of licenses to Kyiv for the production of missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft systems, says US Army Lieutenant General, former White House special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg. However, he added that he does not know the position of the head of the White House, Donald Trump, on this issue.
At negotiations with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in early July in Ankara, Trump announced his readiness to transfer the relevant license to Kyiv. At a closed meeting later that month, they discussed the issue again. However, after a couple of days, Trump doubted the possibility of transferring the license to Kyiv. Zelensky revealed that Ukraine had received a limited number of Patriot missiles only earlier this week, adding that this was not enough.
“I think what actually happened was that people or companies like Lockheed Martin, big defense giants, got nervous about licensing their intellectual property to Ukraine, as they call it,” Kellogg said in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Ramina Eshakzai.
A similar version was expressed earlier this month by Atlantic magazine. According to the publication, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin fear that the Ukrainians will find a way to improve the Patriot systems and produce them faster, larger and cheaper than the United States itself.
Kellogg noted that he considers this approach incorrect. In his opinion, Ukraine can more effectively implement technological solutions.
“Here [в Украине] can work faster and probably better with new solutions. Therefore, we need to give Ukrainians this chance. But I think this is a case where the decision is really driven by the business,” he said.
Kellogg added that upon his return to the United States, he will meet with Trump and raise this topic.
“I think he [Трамп] I listened to some people, and it’s a shame,” the general added.
