Zelenskyy at NATO Summit: Ukraine’s Drone Warfare and Call for Membership

A Phantom Summit in Ankara

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has delivered an address at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. In his speech, he thanked the participants for their attention to Ukraine and its defense capabilities.

The Diplomatic Path to Membership

President Zelenskyy has urged NATO member states to allow Ukraine to become part of the alliance, stating that it would be logical for Ukraine’s defense capabilities to become part of the collective defense of the Alliance. He noted that Ukraine in NATO would become a source of exceptional defense capabilities.

Turkey is mentioned as one of the strong partners cooperating with the Ukrainian defense sector.

Scaling the Drone Arsenal

Kyiv is leveraging its industrial capacity. President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine possesses the largest and most advanced drone warfare capabilities in the world. He introduced the Drone Deal initiative, which involves not only the purchase of drones but also joint production and accelerated access to infrastructure protection and air defense systems.

The Persistent Air Defense Gap

A priority for the Ukrainian government is the creation of a powerful defense against Russian ballistic missiles. President Zelenskyy described this as the last major advantage of Russia and a challenge of global significance.

While the Patriot system is described as excellent, Zelenskyy stated that current production volumes are insufficient to meet the growing need for protection against ballistic missiles. He mentioned discussions with American partners regarding licenses for the production of Patriot systems and called for Europe to develop its own mass-produced, affordable anti-missile systems.

Strategic Realities of the Conflict

• Drone Production: Ukraine uses drones to destroy Russian personnel and equipment, including strikes on oil refineries in Siberia. Maritime drones have evolved into multifunctional platforms capable of striking targets on land and in the air.
• Air Defense: Ukraine has achieved an interception rate of over 90 percent for Shahed-type drones, but requires more missiles for air defense systems.
• NATO Stance: Ukraine advocates for membership, arguing that its experience and defense industry would make the Alliance stronger.
• Diplomatic Context: The address was delivered at a NATO summit in Ankara, where Zelenskyy called for increased determination in strengthening air defense.