President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday he plans to discuss Ukraine's desperate need for systems to defend against Russia's deadly ballistic strikes when he meets US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Turkiye.
Zelensky Calls for More Pressure on Russia
“We see the weakness of Russia — we feel it. But it’s not enough. We need more pressure, more anti-ballistic and more sanctions on Russia,” Zelensky told reporters as he spoke alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Ankara.
Zelensky and Trump are expected to meet on Wednesday following months of Ukraine’s stepped-up attacks on Russia’s energy sector, and Moscow’s massive strikes that killed 50 people in Ukraine’s capital in July alone.
Context of the Meeting
The meeting comes amid ongoing conflict, with Ukraine seeking enhanced air defense capabilities to counter Russian ballistic missile attacks. The NATO summit in Turkiye provides a platform for high-level discussions on security assistance.
