In brief
President Volodymyr Zelensky will use the NATO meeting in Turkey to demand air‑defence systems that can counter Russia’s ballistic missiles, which have recently struck Kyiv twice in a week. He also seeks to secure a meeting with former President Donald Trump to pressure Vladimir Putin toward diplomatic talks. Zelensky’s message comes after Ukraine has increased long‑range drone strikes on Russian targets, revealing a shift in the battlefield dynamic while civilian casualties rise.
President Volodymyr Zelensky will leverage the NATO summit in Ankara to press allies for Urgent Air Defence Systems. The Ukrainian leader highlights the stakes after two devastating missile strikes on Kyiv, which killed more than 50 civilians and shattered residential blocks.
The meeting will be a platform for a high‑level interaction with former U.S. President Donald Trump, whose recent remarks suggest he is willing to take decisive action to secure Ukraine’s safety. Zelensky frames the Russian attacks as a “show of weakness”, urging that a robust defence could force Vladimir Putin into meaningful peace talks.
Ukraine’s air‑defence shortages are stark. While drone attacks are largely intercepted, ballistic missiles regularly slip past Kyiv’s limited Patriot fleet. Pavlo, the estimated number of intercepted objects shows a dramatic disparity: all drones are managed, but every missile finds its way in.
In response, the Ukrainian government is pushing for NATO stockpiles of Patriot missiles to be redirected to Kyiv and for the development of indigenous interceptor systems. Zelensky asserts that “production is still not scaled up to the level actually required to protect people from ballistic terror.”
Supporting this plea is Ukraine’s own offensive operations. Over recent weeks, Ukrainian drones have struck high‑profile Russian targets—including oil refineries in Omsk and strategic sites in Crimea—demonstrating an ability to strike far beyond the border and disrupting Russian logistics.
Zelensky’s narrative stresses that Ukraine has altered the battlefield dynamic by slowing Russian advances in the east, and that air‑defence supplies could cement this advantage. He calls for “dignified” peace negotiations that do not require the surrender of eastern Donbas to Moscow.
With winter looming, Kyiv’s leadership argues that ending the war swiftly—through either decisive military action or diplomatic resolution—depends on safeguarding civilian cities with modern interceptors. The Ankara summit becomes pivotal in shaping Ukraine’s future peace prospects.
