Ukraine's Zelenskiy says Raytheon wants to help produce interceptors

July 23 (Reuters) - Ukrainian ‌President Volodymyr ​Zelenskiy ​said on Thursday the U.S. aerospace and defence company Raytheon had expressed ‌an interest in joint production of Patriot interceptors, ⁠as Kyiv seeks to bolster air defences against escalating ‌Russian ballistic missile attacks.

"I ‌am grateful for the company's readiness to take our partnership to an even higher level, ​where Ukraine would co-produce, together with Raytheon, some of the most vital air defense ⁠assets – Patriot interceptors," Zelenskiy wrote on X in English after ​meeting a delegation from the RTX -owned company.

Ukraine has long called for help from its ​Western partners in building ‌up supplies of interceptors to down Russian ballistic missiles and sought agreement ⁠on securing a licence.

U.S. President Donald Trump said during the NATO summit in Turkey this month that ⁠Washington would grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot missile ​interceptors.

Zelenskiy said discussions with the Raytheon delegation, led by Vice President Joseph DeAntona, also focused on "other areas of ‌partnership regarding non-offensive military equipment."

Zelenskiy met U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker ‌in Kyiv on Wednesday, with the discussion ⁠focusing on licences, and ‌said he wanted "faster ​action and greater support" from Kyiv's partners.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski; Editing by Sanjeev ‌Miglani)

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