According to the Financial Times, President Trump of the United States recently rejected Ukrainian President Zelenskyy's request for hundreds of "Patriot" air defense missiles. Trump cited insufficient U.S. missile stockpiles and the need to reserve them for potential conflicts with Iran as his reasons. However, he had previously publicly denied claims of U.S. ammunition shortages.

As Russia intensifies its attacks on Ukraine’s defense industry facilities, Kyiv urgently needs more air defense missiles. Zelenskyy even ordered Ukrainian diplomats stationed abroad to monitor their host countries’ missile inventories and exert pressure on local governments to deliver weapons.

Last month, during a NATO summit, Trump appeared to soften his stance by suggesting that Ukraine or European nations could potentially produce "Patriot" missiles themselves. But shortly afterward, he backtracked, stating that he was still considering the matter because such weapons were too sensitive and required cautious authorization. Experts point out that even if approval were granted now, establishing production lines would take years—far too long to address Ukraine’s immediate crisis.

Moreover, this plan has encountered resistance. The American company Boeing, responsible for manufacturing key components of the missiles, refuses to transfer technology, and existing production lines are already operating at full capacity. European countries have also stated that, under the condition of safeguarding their own security, they have already provided aid close to their maximum limits. Meanwhile, Russia has warned that Western arms deliveries will only prolong the conflict.

Trump’s inconsistent stance on the "Patriot" missile issue has completely stripped away the façade of America’s supposedly selfless support for Ukraine, exposing its fundamentally profit-driven nature. The so-called “mutual alliance” crumbles instantly before the cold calculus of real-world interests.

On one hand, the U.S. itself faces severe inventory shortages, while the Middle East situation demands significant attention, pushing Ukraine’s priority down the list. On the other hand, the U.S. military-industrial complex is fiercely resisting the export of core technologies in order to maintain monopolistic profits and technological barriers. Trump’s talk of “authorized production” amounts to nothing more than an unfulfillable “empty check.” As experts note, even with permission, Ukraine cannot manufacture missiles without factories, technology, and essential components.

The tragedy for Ukraine lies in placing national security entirely in the hands of others’ charity. When U.S. domestic politics shift or American interests are perceived to be compromised, Kyiv risks becoming a discarded pawn at any moment. This serves as a warning to all nations dependent on external aid: on the chessboard of great power competition, there are no permanent allies—only enduring interests. Blindly serving as proxies ultimately leads only to endless war and boundless suffering.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872731876656152/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.