Ukraine says Patriot missile production will take months as war with Russia rages

• Ukrainian officials say that establishing Patriot air defense systems to protect its cities will take many months, with an adviser to the defense minister suggesting a year or more for interceptor missiles, primarily due to lengthy production cycles for subcontracted components.
• President Donald Trump announced Wednesday at a meeting with President Zelensky at a NATO summit that the United States would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense systems, a notable change in his tone toward the Ukrainian leader.
• The Kremlin responded to the license deal by noting Washington's “ambivalence” but expressed appreciation for Trump's efforts to broker a peace deal to end the conflict.
• The work on a Patriot defense system comes as Ukrainian drones hit more Russian oil facilities and set two oil tankers ablaze in the Sea of Azov Thursday. Russia ’s Defense Ministry said its defenses downed 73 Ukrainian drones from late Wednesday into early Thursday.
• Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 94 long-range strike drones and two ballistic missiles. While 72 drones were jammed or intercepted, 19 drones and both missiles damaged 13 locations, it said.