Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged NATO allies to make strengthening air defence one of the main outcomes of the alliance’s Ankara summit, warning that Ukraine still lacks enough systems to stop Russian ballistic missiles.
Kyiv seeks more Patriot interceptors
Speaking at the NATO Defense Industry Forum on Tuesday, Zelensky said Ukraine’s immediate priority was securing additional air defence missiles.
“Please help us get more air defence missiles. This is our top priority right now,” he said, adding that Ukraine could manage other defence needs independently but required greater support from partners against ballistic threats.
The appeal comes as Ukraine faces shortages of Patriot interceptors, the US-made missiles that Kyiv uses to defend against Russian ballistic missile attacks.
Ballistic missiles remain a major challenge
Recent Russian strikes have highlighted the difficulty of defending against ballistic missiles. Ukraine has reported strong interception rates against drones and cruise missiles, but ballistic weapons remain more difficult to stop without sufficient Patriot supplies.
Zelensky said Ukraine had developed the world’s most advanced drone warfare capabilities during the war and highlighted the role of drones in targeting Russian forces.
He also pointed to Ukrainian naval drones in the Black Sea and long-range strikes inside Russia as examples of the country’s growing defence capabilities.
Zelensky calls for European missile production
The Ukrainian president said ballistic missile defence remained Russia’s “last major advantage” and called for faster development of European defence capabilities.
He praised the Patriot system as highly effective but said current production levels were insufficient to meet global demand.
Zelensky said Ukraine had discussed Patriot production licences with Washington and urged European governments and defence companies to support expanded manufacturing.
“Europe needs its own effective anti-ballistic systems and missiles,” he said, warning that the continent could not wait until 2030 or beyond to develop stronger protection.
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