Zelensky Presses Nato for Air Defences After Deadly Russian Strikes on Kyiv

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is preparing to use a Nato meeting in Turkey to press Kyiv's allies for the air defence systems the country says it urgently needs. His appeal follows a wave of Russian missile strikes that hit the capital twice in less than a week, striking residential blocks and killing more than 50 civilians.

The summit in Ankara also offers Zelensky a chance to meet US President Donald Trump. He plans to argue that Russia's attacks are a sign of weakness rather than strength, and that pressure should be applied on Vladimir Putin to move towards what Kyiv calls a "dignified" peace.

Ballistic missiles expose a defence gap

Ukraine's air force publishes a daily count of the weapons Russia launches and the number intercepted. On a recent Monday, nearly all incoming drones were blocked, but the failure rate against missiles was stark: Ukraine did not stop a single ballistic missile in that attack.

Intercepting them is difficult. Ballistic missiles travel at several thousand kilometres an hour, and there are not enough US-made Patriot systems in the country to counter them. Zelensky called it "absurd" that global production has not been scaled up to protect people from what he described as "ballistic terror".

He has urged European allies to hand over their own Patriot stockpiles, arguing that missiles sitting in storage are useless while civilians are being killed. "Russia is placing its bets on ballistic weapons, and those who want peace must place their bets on protection against ballistic attacks," he said. Because Patriot systems are scarce worldwide, Zelensky is also pushing for Ukraine to build its own equivalent with Nato support.

Ukraine's deep strikes hit Russia

The renewed Russian bombardment comes as Ukraine steps up its own long-range drone campaign, striking oil refineries and military targets deep inside Russia. The attacks have caused significant fuel shortages and power cuts, with Russian social media showing people queuing for hours to buy petrol.

Moscow, which has long targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure including power stations in winter, now accuses Kyiv of "terrorism" for hitting its refineries. Zelensky describes those accusations as part of an "influence campaign" and intends to share details with Nato partners.

The targets have been prominent. St Petersburg was struck by drones ahead of Putin's economic forum in June, and later strikes reached Moscow itself. A confirmed hit on an oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia, some 2,500 km from Ukraine's border, suggested a drone flew undetected for hours, underlining how stretched Russia's air defences have become.

Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014, is also being hit almost daily. Strikes on military logistics, refineries and power plants there have triggered power cuts, fuel and food shortages, and an official state of emergency. One local resident told the BBC the situation was "catastrophic".

A push for negotiations

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged member states to "pull their weight" so Ukraine can "defend its sovereignty", saying Kyiv is "changing the dynamic on the battlefield". On the eve of the gathering, Zelensky expressed hope the meeting would not be "empty".

Kyiv's goal is to pressure Putin into peace talks on terms it could accept — which, it stresses, would not include surrendering the entire eastern Donbas region that Moscow continues to demand. Zelensky wants to convince Nato and Trump that Ukraine has turned the tide and that its campaign of pressure, backed by allies, could compel Russia to negotiate seriously.

Trump has appeared impressed by Ukraine's recent performance, though he also held a 90-minute phone call with Putin this week. Ukraine says it wants to end the war quickly, through "strength or diplomacy", before another harsh winter sets in. To have any chance of that, Zelensky argues, Ukraine needs more interceptor missiles to shield its cities and civilians.

As the war in the skies intensifies, the coming meetings in Ankara could prove pivotal for Ukraine's defence. What do you think allies should do next? Share this article and join the conversation.

Source: BBC News – World