Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a speech at the Defense Industry Forum held as part of the 36th NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's experience in tackling the challenges of modern warfare has created a capacity that can be utilized together with NATO.
The Ukrainian leader said, "We must be part of NATO's collective defense. This will make us all stronger." Zelenskyy thanked for the interest shown in his country's defense industry, stating that these capabilities are among the strongest in Europe and have proven their effectiveness on the modern battlefield.
Emphasis on UAVs and naval drones
Zelenskyy noted that the combat environment is undergoing a transformation similar to that of the World War I era, with significant changes in unmanned aerial vehicles and military technologies. Stating that Ukraine is fighting for legitimate self-defense, Zelenskyy claimed that Ukrainian forces neutralize approximately 30,000 Russian soldiers per month, and that most of this is achieved with unmanned aerial vehicles.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine has managed to ensure security in the Black Sea thanks to its naval drones, explaining that these vehicles have transformed into multi-purpose platforms, not just for destroying Russian ships. "Our naval drones can attack various targets on land and in the air from the sea. We are also fighting in the sky, we are fighting on two fronts," he said.
Air defense and Europe's need
Zelenskyy claimed that the interception rate of Russian unmanned aerial vehicles exceeds 90 percent. He argued that thousands of Russian UAVs are shot down weekly and that no other country has a defense capability at this level against them.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that the interception rate of cruise missiles has also increased thanks to partners' air defense systems. Underlining the need to establish a strong defense system in Europe against Russian ballistic missiles, Zelenskyy said, "This is the last major advantage Russia has. As the conflicts in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf have shown, this is a matter of global importance."
Noting that current Patriot production is insufficient to meet the growing need for protection against ballistic missiles, Zelenskyy called on Europe to develop its own missile defense systems. "We cannot wait until 2030 or later. Europe needs cost-effective, mass-producible missile defense systems, and it needs them as soon as possible, even today," he said.
NATO membership and accusations against Russia
Zelenskyy stated that air defense is the main priority for Ukraine, saying, "We can do everything else ourselves, we really can. But when it comes to air defense, we need partners."
Emphasizing that Ukraine has a strong defense potential despite not being a NATO member, Zelenskyy said, "If you can fight like Ukrainians, we believe we should be part of NATO's collective defense."
Zelenskyy argued that Ukraine has dispelled the myth of Russia's strategic superiority. Claiming that there is no major oil refinery left in Russia that Ukraine has not attacked, Zelenskyy said, "We are not like Putin. We do not fight for pleasure or geopolitical goals like Putin. Russia brought war to our land, is killing our people, trying to take away our independence. We are only defending ourselves."
