Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers the keynote speech at NATO’s Summit Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey, on July 7, 2026. During the speech, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has developed unmatched anti-drone capabilities in the course of its ongoing conflict with Russia. (NATO)
Ukraine’s superior ability to defeat drone attacks on a massive scale makes the country indispensable to Europe’s security, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday as NATO leaders gathered for the opening of a two-day summit in Turkey.
Addressing defense industry leaders and top NATO commanders, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has developed capabilities unmatched anywhere in the world after more than four years of fending off relentless Russian missile and drone barrages.
“We have raised our interception rate against Russian Shahed drones to more than 90%. That means thousands of Russian attack drones shut down every week,” Zelenskyy said. “With all due respect, no other country has the capability to defend against attack drones at this scale.”
He argued those lessons should now become part of NATO’s collective defense, saying Ukraine’s experience has transformed it into a frontline security asset for Europe rather than simply a country seeking protection.
Zelenskyy’s comments come as Ukraine has begun to regain the initiative in its war with Russia, which launched its full-scale invasion of the country in 2022.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy is expected to meet with President Donald Trump during the NATO summit in Ankara. While much of the gathering is expected to center on some of Trump’s priorities, including increasing European defense spending and the allies’ response to the U.S. war against Iran, Ukraine’s war with Russia still looms over events.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, speaking on the eve of the summit, said one focus would be on shoring up allies’ weapons support for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks during a press conference on July 6, 2026 ahead of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey. Rutte said NATO countries need to support Ukraine with more air defense weaponry. (NATO)
“Right now, Ukraine is changing the dynamics on the battlefield, thanks to the bravery, the dedication and ingenuity of their armed forces. But they need our continued support, especially when it comes to air defense,” Rutte said.
Russian ballistic missile attacks are one area where Ukraine’s extensive counter-drone defenses are of little use. Zelenskyy used the summit to appeal to NATO leaders for more support against that threat.
“This is our top priority right now. We are capable of doing everything else ourselves, but when it comes to air defense, we need our partners’ determination,” he said.
According to some estimates, the number of troops killed or injured in the war has topped 2 million. So far this year, Ukraine has made incremental territorial gains while expanding its ability to strike targets deep inside Russia. Every major oil refinery in the country has come under attack, with the most recent strike launched Monday against a site in Siberia, Zelenskyy said.
While Ukraine has often been characterized as dependent on the West to sustain its war effort, Zelenskyy said his country is in a different position now than at the start of the war. Ukraine’s defense sector has experienced rapid growth despite the fighting.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine has built “the world’s largest and most advanced drone warfare capability.”
A Polish soldier prepares a counter drone system, similar to those used in Ukraine, during a demonstration in Nowa Deba Training Area, Poland, Nov. 18, 2025. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country's battle-tested capabilities should be incorported into NATO's collective defense. (Luis Garcia/U.S. Army)
“Ukraine in NATO is a source of extraordinary defensive capability,” Zelenskyy said. “If Ukrainians already know how to fight like this, then it makes sense for these capabilities to become a part of the alliance’s collective defense.”
In June, Ukrainian forces killed 28,000 Russian troops, mostly with drones. “And we have video confirmation for every single one of them,” Zelenskyy said.
Over the years, Ukraine has made appeals for NATO membership, but the proposal has been politically unacceptable to some alliance members. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy said all NATO countries stand to gain if Ukraine gained entry.
“Do you really believe it would be right (for Ukraine) to live outside NATO, a country and a people with this level of defensive capability?” he said.
