At NATO Summit, Zelenskyy Proposes Joint Production of Patriot Missiles for Ukraine.

First Day of the NATO Summit in Ankara

According to UATV: The NATO summit kicked off in Ankara on July 8, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holding bilateral talks with leaders from several countries. Key topics included missile defense, Ukraine’s status within the alliance, and opportunities for joint weapons production. Zelenskyy met with representatives from the Netherlands, Canada, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Germany, and also held discussions with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

During these meetings, Zelenskyy stated that Russia is losing approximately 30,000 soldiers each month. He underscored the need for collaborative efforts to strengthen defense capabilities, remarking:

'In Europe, we must do one thing: build a strong defense against Russian ballistic missiles.'

Zelenskyy also stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership, asking: 'Do you really think it would be right to leave a country with this level of defense capability outside NATO?'

Defense Discussions Take Center Stage

Ukraine’s air defense was another major focus. According to the president, Ukraine’s air defense systems intercept over 90% of drones, demonstrating their effectiveness. As part of Ukraine’s defense strategy, plans are underway to launch joint production of missiles for Patriot systems and secure 70 billion euros in defense funding. Washington is considering allowing European partners to establish their own production lines for these missiles.

Mark Rutte highlighted the value of cooperation with Ukraine, stating:

'We become even stronger when we work together with our partners, including Ukraine.'

He also noted that joint production would enable Ukraine to manufacture or maintain key American weapons, such as:

• Abrams tanks
• AMRAAMs
• ATACMS

This summit opens new avenues for collaboration between Ukraine and NATO countries, focusing on bolstering defense capabilities and collective security amid growing threats from Russia. Supporting Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and co-producing weapons are set to become key pillars of a strategic partnership that is reshaping Europe’s security architecture. These meetings also reflect the international community’s increasing attention to the situation in Ukraine and its role in regional security.