Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Volodymyr Zelensky has made layered air defense against ballistic missiles his highest priority. The United States has already supplied Ukraine with Patriot batteries and interceptors. AdvertisementSo Kyiv and its European backers settled on a new ask: give us the production license so we can build PAC-3s ourselves, either in Ukraine or somewhere in Europe. Note the reality check: PAC-3 interceptors are currently produced only in the United States and Japan. In the Schrödinger’s box of competing narratives, the American interest is finally being treated as the decisive variable.