Ukraine will bring extraordinary defense capabilities to NATO

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said experienced Ukrainian forces in battle would strengthen NATO defenses, as he renewed his argument for Kyiv to join, at an alliance summit in Ankara.

"Do you really believe that it would be right to live outside NATO, a country and people with this level of defense capabilities?" President Zelensky said in his speech on the sidelines of the summit, launching Al Arabiya from AFP (8/7).

"Ukraine in NATO is a source of extraordinary defense capabilities," he said.

President Zelensky renewed calls for Ukraine to be granted membership despite US President Donald Trump firmly closing the door on Kyiv becoming part of the Western military alliance.

The US leader has dampened Ukraine's long-standing efforts to join NATO as he seeks to end a war that has lasted more than four years with Russia.

On the same occasion, President Zelensky urged Ukrainian supporters to increase assistance for air defense, as his country struggles with a shortage of important interceptors to shoot down Russian missiles.

Ukraine has recently appeared to turn the tide against the Kremlin in the conflict as it has stabilized the front lines and carried out damaging attacks deep inside Russian territory.

However, despite being able to overcome the Russian drone swarms that target the country every day, Kyiv has difficulty shooting down ballistic missiles because its air defenses are weak.

"We are able to do everything ourselves, but in terms of air defense, we need the determination of our partners," he said.

"Hopefully, the greater determination and decision for air defense will be one of the main results of this NATO summit," he said.

The Ukrainian leader said current levels of production of US-made Patriot missiles were insufficient and he called on allies to pressure Washington to allow Kyiv to produce them under licence.

He also urged European countries to work with Ukraine to produce their own cheaper versions of the technology.

"Europe needs an affordable and mass-produced anti-ballistic system as soon as possible. In fact, even today," he said.