That stance had raised the spectre of Ukraine and Europe having to stand up to Russian aggression alone. Trump said earlier this month he would grant Ukraine licences to manufacture the Patriots it needs to counter Russia’s ballistic missiles. Zelensky says Ukraine is discussing joint production and technology exchange with both Lockheed Martin and Raytheon. Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to Nato, said during a visit to Ukraine earlier this week: “From reconnaissance and logistics to precision strikes, Ukraine has shown the world how unmanned systems can give smaller forces a decisive edge.” Ukraine says it hit a Russian naval baseUkrainian forces also struck a naval base used Russia’s Black Sea, according to the General Staff.