Ankara: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged European nations to expedite the development and mass production of air defense systems during his address at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara. As the opening event of NATO's 2026 summit, Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine's critical role in enhancing the alliance's defensive capabilities.

According to Anadolu Agency, Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine's interception success rate against Russian drones has surpassed 90%, and they maintain a high rate against cruise missiles. He questioned the rationale behind excluding Ukraine from NATO, given its advanced defensive capabilities and proposed "Drone Deal" initiative to share these resources with allies.

Zelenskyy underscored the necessity for Europe to bolster its missile defense infrastructure, advocating for the immediate production of affordable anti-ballistic systems. He expressed hope that the NATO summit in Ankara would result in decisive actions to enhance air defense capabilities and urged collaboration with Ukraine to address drone threats.

In a subsequent press briefing, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed the alliance's commitment to strengthening Ukraine's air defenses. Rutte praised Ukraine's efforts and stressed the importance of safeguarding cities and critical infrastructure.

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Rutte for the summit invitation, viewing it as a platform to foster cooperation with allied defense companies. He mentioned the need for expedited access to missiles for Patriot systems and acknowledged the support provided through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List.

The summit also featured the arrival of US President Donald Trump, who is set to engage in bilateral talks with Zelenskyy. Trump indicated that discussions would focus on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, expressing optimism about potential settlements.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Moscow would closely monitor the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, referencing understandings from the previous year's Russia-US summit in Alaska.

The NATO summit will continue through Wednesday, with discussions centered on defense investment, military support for Ukraine, and expanding the alliance's defense industrial base.