Zelensky urges NATO to boost air defences as Russian missile attacks intensify

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to NATO allies for more advanced air defence systems.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to NATO allies for more advanced air defence systems, saying Ukraine urgently needs stronger protection as Russia continues launching large scale missile attacks on civilian areas. Speaking at the NATO summit in Ankara, Zelensky said Ukraine could manage many aspects of its defence but still depended on its partners to help shield its cities from ballistic missile strikes.

His appeal comes after two major Russian attacks on Kyiv within a week left more than 50 civilians dead. Missiles struck residential buildings, adding to growing concerns over Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against increasingly sophisticated aerial assaults.

Addressing NATO leaders, Zelensky said the country’s armed forces had shown they were capable of defending their territory in many ways, but air defence remained the area where international support was essential. He urged allies to act quickly by supplying additional systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

During the summit, Zelensky is also expected to hold talks with US President Donald Trump. The Ukrainian leader hopes to convince him that Russia’s recent attacks reflect growing pressure on Moscow rather than military strength. He argues that stronger international backing could force Russian President Vladimir Putin to return to meaningful peace negotiations.

While Russia has intensified its missile campaign, Ukraine has also expanded its own long range drone operations. Ukrainian forces have targeted oil refineries, military facilities and energy infrastructure deep inside Russian territory, disrupting fuel supplies and causing power shortages in several regions.

Russian officials reported that hundreds of Ukrainian drones were launched toward Moscow overnight. Authorities claimed that most were intercepted before reaching the capital, although the full extent of any damage has not yet been confirmed.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also used the summit to call on alliance members to continue supporting Ukraine. He said Kyiv needed sustained military assistance to defend its sovereignty and noted that Ukrainian forces had recently managed to slow Russian advances on parts of the eastern front.

Despite those battlefield successes, Ukraine continues to face serious challenges in defending against ballistic missiles. According to Ukrainian military reports, many Russian drones are intercepted each day, but ballistic missiles remain much harder to stop because they travel at extremely high speeds. Ukraine currently has only a limited number of Patriot air defence systems, which are among the few weapons capable of intercepting such missiles.

Zelensky has repeatedly urged European countries to transfer additional Patriot systems from their own stockpiles, arguing that they can save lives if deployed in Ukraine rather than remaining unused elsewhere. At the same time, he has called for greater cooperation with NATO to help Ukraine develop and manufacture similar air defence technology in the future.

Ukrainian officials believe their recent drone campaign has increased pressure on Russia by exposing weaknesses in its own air defences. Several important oil facilities, including sites far from the Ukrainian border, have reportedly been struck in recent weeks. Frequent attacks have also disrupted military logistics and energy supplies in Crimea, the peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014.

As the conflict continues, Zelensky says Ukraine wants to achieve a lasting peace through strength and diplomacy. However, he insists that meaningful negotiations will only become possible if Ukraine receives enough military support to protect its population and maintain pressure on Russia before another difficult winter begins.