The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyhighlighted this Tuesday the capacity Ukrainian defensivedeveloped as a result of the war started by Russia, and advocated for his country to become part of NATO, something that would also strengthen the Alliance itself, he said.
“It would be natural to integrate into a common security community. The reality is that we will continue to be close to the source of the problem, Russia, for a long time. Ukraine’s presence in NATO would provide an extraordinary defensive capability,” he said at the Defense Industry Forum at the NATO summit.
Addressing the attendees, Zelensky told them: “I have a question for you: Do you really believe that it would be right to live outside of NATO, being a country and a people with this level of defensive capacity? (…) It makes sense that these capabilities become part of the collective defense of the Alliance; it would make us stronger.”
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The Ukrainian president explained that Ukraine defends itself every day and night from “hundreds and hundreds of attack drones” and “thousands and thousands every week and every month,” and indicated that Ukraine’s defense sector “is building that capability, even in the midst of a large-scale war.”
He also referred to the “high interception rate against cruise missiles,” partly thanks to the support of partners.
According to Zelensky, the only thing that still needs to be done in Europe is “build a solid defense against Russia’s ballistic missiles,” which in his opinion are the “great challenge” given that they constitute its “last great advantage.”
“I believe that Europe urgently needs the capacity to produce anti-ballistic systems and the missiles they require,” he said.
“This cannot wait until 2030 or beyond. Europe needs affordable, mass-produced anti-ballistic systems as soon as possible,” he said.
He added that, although the Patriot system is “excellent,” current production “is not enough to meet the growing demand for protection against ballistic missiles” and called for “responding to this reality.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrives at Esenboga Airport ahead of the 2026 NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, Türkiye. Photo: EFE/ Metin Aktaş / POOL
“Please help us get more air defense missiles. It is our top priority at the moment. We are capable of doing everything else on our own, but when it comes to air defense, we need the determination of our partners. I pray that greater determination and more decisions on air defense will be some of the key outcomes of this NATO summit in Ankara,” he said.
For his part, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described as “truly extraordinary” what Ukraine has achieved in recent months in the war against Russia.
“They are succeeding in attacking Russia’s energy and defense infrastructure deep in its territory,” stressed Rutte, who also criticized the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “willing to sacrifice tens of thousands of his own men, up to 30,000 or even 35,000, on the battlefield.”
He added that, on the battlefront, “just four or five months ago we were still seeing the Russians gaining ground, but now that has slowed considerably” and it is Ukraine that is having the most success.
Rutte also acknowledged the impact that Ukraine’s attacks are having on the Russian economy, which “is in a very precarious situation.”
