Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on NATO allies to make what he described as "strong decisions" on military assistance ahead of his planned meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump during this week's NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Speaking before alliance leaders convened, Zelensky urged NATO members to accelerate deliveries of air defense systems and interceptor missiles, arguing that Ukraine urgently needs additional resources to defend its cities from continued Russian missile and drone attacks.
"Our warriors are successfully intercepting many drones and cruise missiles," Zelensky said. "However, ballistic missiles remain a serious challenge because of the limited number of interceptor missiles available."
Ukraine has repeatedly requested additional Patriot air defense systems and interceptor missiles from Western allies, saying the U.S.-made systems remain among the few capable of intercepting advanced ballistic missiles. Kyiv has argued that expanding its air defense network would help protect civilian infrastructure and population centers from increasingly frequent aerial attacks.
The appeal follows another wave of Russian strikes targeting Ukraine, including attacks on Kyiv that Ukrainian officials say caused civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure. Russia has intensified its use of drones and missiles in recent months, while Ukraine continues to seek additional military support from its international partners.
The NATO summit comes as President Trump seeks greater defense spending commitments from European allies. Administration officials have said the United States expects NATO members to increase military investment and assume a larger share of the alliance's collective defense responsibilities.
In addition to alliance spending, the war in Ukraine is expected to be a central topic during meetings between NATO leaders. Trump is scheduled to meet Zelensky on the sidelines of the summit following recent discussions with both the Ukrainian president and Russian President Vladimir Putin as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continue.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also urged allies to move quickly on additional air defense assistance, arguing that Ukraine's immediate military needs require prompt decisions rather than prolonged negotiations.
The summit is expected to include discussions on NATO's long-term security posture, military readiness, support for Ukraine, and regional security challenges. Leaders are also expected to address defense industrial capacity, weapons production, and cooperation among alliance members.
Turkey, which is hosting the summit, has sought to balance its role as a NATO member with its diplomatic engagement with both Ukraine and Russia throughout the conflict. Ankara has previously facilitated negotiations between the two countries while maintaining defense cooperation within the alliance.
Beyond Ukraine, the summit is expected to examine broader questions surrounding NATO's future strategy, burden-sharing among member states, and the alliance's response to evolving security threats in Europe and beyond.
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