Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his address at the NATO Summit in Turkey to urge allied nations to provide Ukraine with urgently needed air defense systems, as Kyiv faces increasingly intense Russian missile and drone attacks.
“We are capable of doing everything else ourselves, but when it comes to air defense, we need the determination of our partners,” Zelensky said on Tuesday morning.
His appeal comes amid growing urgency after Russian missile strikes hit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, twice in less than a week, striking residential buildings and killing more than 50 civilians.
The summit in Ankara also provides Zelensky with an opportunity to hold a key meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he is expected to argue that Russia’s “brutal” attacks reflect weakness rather than strength, and that Russian President Vladimir Putin should face increased international pressure to enter meaningful peace negotiations.
The latest Russian strikes come as Ukraine has intensified its own long-range drone attacks inside Russia, targeting oil refineries and military facilities. The attacks have reportedly caused significant fuel shortages and power outages in several Russian regions.
Highlighting the scale of the threat, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said Russian air defenses intercepted “most” of the 430 Ukrainian drones launched toward the Russian capital overnight. The full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Videos shared on Russian social media showed long lines of motorists waiting to buy fuel, with some reports of confrontations over limited supplies.
Ahead of the summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on member states to “carry their fair share of the burden” and ensure Ukraine receives the military assistance it needs to defend its sovereignty.
Rutte said Ukraine is “changing the dynamics on the battlefield,” referring to its efforts to slow Russia’s ground offensive in eastern Ukraine and its recent long-range drone operations, which have provided Kyiv with a tactical advantage.
However, as the air war continues to escalate, Russian ballistic missiles remain one of Ukraine’s greatest challenges.
Ukraine’s Air Force publishes daily reports detailing the number of Russian missiles and drones launched and how many are intercepted. While nearly all Russian drones were successfully shot down on Monday, Ukraine failed to intercept any of the ballistic missiles launched during the same attack.
Intercepting ballistic missiles is particularly difficult because they travel at speeds of several thousand kilometers per hour, and Ukraine does not possess enough U.S.-made Patriot interceptor missiles to counter them effectively.
“It is simply absurd that, in today’s world, production has still not been increased to the level required to protect people from ballistic terror,” Zelensky said in a video address on Monday.
He has repeatedly urged European allies to transfer their Patriot missile stockpiles to Ukraine, arguing that such systems serve little purpose sitting in storage while civilians continue to be killed.
“Russia relies on ballistic weapons, while those who seek peace must rely on protection against ballistic attacks,” Zelensky said, outlining the key requests he plans to present during his meetings in Ankara.
Patriot air defense systems remain in limited supply worldwide, and it remains uncertain how many would be required if Russia further escalates its ballistic missile campaign.
For that reason, Zelensky has also proposed developing a Ukrainian-made air defense system with NATO’s support.
At the same time, Ukraine’s deep strikes inside Russian territory appear to be increasing pressure on the Kremlin, suggesting Kyiv’s long-range operations are beginning to have a strategic impact.
