Zelenskiy: We Must Be Part of NATO's Collective Defense

Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskiy made important statements at the Defense Industry Forum held in Ankara within the scope of the 36. NATO Heads of State and Government Summit. Emphasizing that Ukraine must be an inseparable part of NATO's collective defense, Zelenskiy stated that Ukraine must definitely take part in the future of the alliance. Noting that Ukrainian defense companies and capabilities have become one of the strongest elements in Europe, Zelenskiy stated that these capabilities have proven themselves many times over in the modern battlefield. Zelenskiy, who also thanked the states and partners for their interest in Ukraine during his speech, drew attention to the critical importance of this cooperation in the defense industry.

Noting that the nature of wars has changed greatly and an almost revolutionary transformation has been experienced, Zelenskiy stated that the intensity of this change is of a magnitude similar to the transformations in the First World War. Pointing out that different weapons were invented in history, Zelenskiy emphasized that today there are very serious changes in unmanned aerial vehicles, remote warfare capabilities, and war technology. Stating that Ukraine continues the war on the front line only for the purpose of self-defense, Zelenskiy announced that they currently neutralize approximately 30 thousand Russian soldiers every month and that a large part of this is carried out with UAVs. Saying that they are not proud of these numbers but that this is the brutal reality of modern warfare, the leader added that Ukraine is waging a struggle that it did not start but has to fight to protect its country.

Stating that Ukraine has rapidly developed its UAV capacity since 2022 and established a serious defense infrastructure in this field, Zelenskiy noted that the interception rates against Russian UAVs have exceeded 90 percent. Zelenskiy, who stated that thousands of Russian UAVs are being shot down and prevented every week and that no other country has this level of defense capability, noted that the reality of this war forced Ukraine to build this system and constantly improve its UAV capacity. Expressing that the security of the Black Sea is ensured with sea drones, Zelenskiy explained that these vehicles are not only assault platforms that eliminate Russian ships, but have also turned into systems that can carry out multipurpose attacks against land and air targets. In addition, he added to his words that UAVs are used effectively in the occupied territories and thus the struggle on the front line continues uninterruptedly.

Emphasizing that a strong defense system against Russia's ballistic missiles must be built in Europe, Zelenskiy stated that this issue is of global importance and that Europe must urgently develop its own capability. Noting that the current production of Patriot systems is not sufficient to meet the protection requirements against increasing ballistic missile threats, Zelenskiy called on Europe to develop its own anti-ballistic systems. Stating that this process cannot be waited until 2030 or a later date, he said that Europe urgently needs anti-ballistic systems that are financially affordable and can be mass-produced today. Emphasizing that air defense missiles are the top priority for Ukraine to continue defending itself, Zelenskiy specifically requested that partners show more determination and make faster decisions.

Stating that hundreds of Ukrainian companies have produced the modern weapons the country needs, making the war more costly for Russia, Zelenskiy expressed that the UAV initiative is not limited to just purchasing vehicles but also includes joint production. Calling for air defense to be one of the main decisions of the NATO Ankara Summit, Zelenskiy noted that the challenges of modern warfare can only be fought together with Ukraine. Noting that the Ukrainian defense industry, the resilience of the people, and the accumulated experience have fully proven themselves, Zelenskiy stated that a Ukraine within NATO would bring an extraordinary defense capability. Concluding his words by stating that he is proud of his people and Ukraine, Zelenskiy emphasized that the military and strategic value their country will add to the NATO alliance is invaluable.