Zelenskyy urges NATO for urgent missile aid: 'We need more'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed to NATO allies for an urgent increase in air defense systems and missiles, warning that his country is running critically low on interceptors for Russian ballistic missiles. Speaking at a NATO defense industry forum in Ankara, Zelenskyy declared that bolstering air defenses is Kyiv's foremost priority.

"Please help us get more air defense missiles. This is our main priority right now. We can do everything else ourselves, but when it comes to air defense, we need the decisiveness of our partners," Zelenskyy stated. Ukraine is facing dwindling supplies of missiles for the U.S.-made Patriot system, a crucial defense against Russian ballistic threats. While Ukrainian forces continue to intercept many drones and cruise missiles, ballistic missiles pose a significantly greater challenge without sufficient interceptors.

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Please help us get more air defense missiles. This is our main priority right now. We can do everything else ourselves, but when it comes to air defense, we need the decisiveness of our partners.

Zelenskyy also highlighted Ukraine's development of advanced drone warfare capabilities during the conflict, noting their key role against Russian forces. He pointed to the successful use of naval drones in the Black Sea and long-range strikes within Russia. However, he stressed that European nations must expedite their own ballistic missile defense development, calling it Russia's last major battlefield advantage. He praised the Patriot system but cautioned that current production capacity is insufficient for Ukraine and its partners' needs. Zelenskyy mentioned Kyiv's discussions with Washington about obtaining missile production licenses and urged European governments and the defense industry to support this process, emphasizing the need for affordable systems produced in large quantities as soon as possible.

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Europe needs its own effective anti-ballistic systems and missiles. This cannot wait until 2030 or later. We need affordable systems that will be produced in large quantities, and as soon as possible.