Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky calls for air defences ‘today’ to stop Putin and says Kyiv belongs in Nato

Key Points:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged NATO to urgently supply air defence systems, particularly Patriot missiles, to protect Ukraine from Russian missile attacks, emphasizing that Europe must accelerate anti-ballistic missile production immediately rather than by 2030.
• Zelensky affirmed that Ukraine belongs in NATO and highlighted the significance of drone technology as the biggest revolution in warfare since World War II, underscoring Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities.
• U.S. President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with NATO members for not adequately supporting the U.S., despite America’s substantial financial investment in the alliance, and boasted about the strength and morale of the U.S. military ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara.
• NATO leaders planned to announce significant arms deals worth tens of billions of dollars during the summit to enhance European defence, amid heightened tensions and Russia’s commitment to closely monitor the summit’s outcomes.
• The NATO summit in Ankara featured speeches from Zelensky and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, focusing on reinforcing transatlantic security cooperation and Europe’s need for greater defence independence.