The President of Ukraine has reiterated his appeal for NATO membership, emphasizing that his nation has already demonstrated itself as a dependable ally and that joining the alliance would be completely justified.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, declared that his country merits membership in NATO because it holds some of Europe’s most sophisticated combat capabilities.
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Speaking at NATO’s Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, he stressed that Ukraine is no longer merely a recipient of security; it has become a contributor.
Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine’s armed forces have developed into a “source of exceptional defensive capacity” for Europe, owing to the country’s swift adoption of new technologies.
“Does it truly make sense to exclude from NATO a nation and its people equipped with such defensive strength?” he questioned. “Given that these capabilities exist, and Ukrainians have mastered this style of combat, integrating these strengths into the Alliance’s collective defence framework would be logical. This integration would enhance all members’ security.”
He further remarked that Ukraine’s accession would boost NATO’s deterrence against Russia.
US President Donald Trump has dismissed the possibility of Ukraine joining the alliance, causing Kyiv to shelve the issue temporarily. However, the conflict involving the US and Israel in Iran has shifted Ukraine’s image from a vulnerable border state to a leader in defence, as Gulf countries sought advanced drone systems to counter Iranian attacks.
While Ukraine’s expertise in drone interception is now widely acknowledged, Zelenskyy asserted that his military possesses additional capabilities, including effective mid- and long-range strike potential.
“We have thoroughly dismantled the notion that Russia has a secure strategic rear,” Zelenskyy stated in Ankara. He added that for an extended period, Russia “believed it retained a territorial edge.” This perception allowed Moscow to protect its military manufacturing safely, relying on the conviction that it was out of reach.
“Ukrainian drones penetrated Russian defenses and successfully targeted a Russian oil refinery in Siberia,” he noted.
On Monday, Ukrainian forces launched a drone attack on a refinery in Omsk, one of Russia’s primary fuel production facilities, located over 2,500 kilometers from the Russia-Ukraine frontier.
“This event is no longer isolated; it reflects a new reality. No significant oil refinery in Russia remains untouched by Ukraine’s strikes.”
Zelenskyy emphasized that the current gap for Ukraine and Europe lies chiefly in anti-ballistic missile air defence. The volume of western production does not meet the demands posed by ongoing attacks in Ukraine and other conflicts in the Middle East.
“Those protecting life require additional Patriots,” he stated, referencing the US-manufactured air defence system. He also called for Europe to swiftly advance its own mass-production of similar platforms.
Zelenskyy is anticipated to renew his request for permission to share Patriot interceptor technology with Ukraine during his meeting with Trump in Ankara on Wednesday.