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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s combat-tested defense capabilities should become part of NATO’s collective security system, arguing that keeping Ukraine outside the Alliance would weaken, rather than strengthen, Euro-Atlantic security, UATV English reports.
Speaking at the NATO Defense Industry Forum, Zelenskyy said Ukraine has significantly improved its ability to counter Russia’s mass drone and missile attacks.
“Russia launches massive attacks with different types of drones, missiles and a large number of ballistic missiles. We have increased the interception rate of Russian Shahed-type drones to more than 90%. This means thousands of Russian drones are neutralized every week. And with all due respect, no other country has the capability to defend against drone attacks on such a scale,” Zelenskyy said.
He stressed that Ukraine also has strong missile interception capabilities and directly questioned whether it is logical to keep such a country outside NATO.
“Do you really believe it is right to leave outside NATO a country and a people with such defense capabilities?” the president said.
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine has already proved itself to be a reliable partner, and its membership in NATO would be a natural step that would strengthen the entire Alliance.
The president also said Ukraine has destroyed Russia’s belief that it has a protected strategic rear.
“Ukrainian drones have broken through Russian defenses and struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia. This is not an exception. This is a new reality. Russia no longer has a single major oil refinery that has not been hit by Ukraine,” he said.
Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine is not fighting for conquest or geopolitics, but to defend itself from Russian aggression and raise the cost of war for Moscow, thereby increasing the chances of peace.
He also presented the Drone Deal initiative to partners, emphasizing that it is not only about purchasing drones but also about joint production.
“Drone Deal is not just the purchase of drones. It is also joint production. It is fast access to protection,” Zelenskyy said.
According to the president, the European Union, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Gulf countries have already joined the initiative.
Zelenskyy also urged allies to develop stronger protection against ballistic missiles, warning that Russia’s ability to launch ballistic strikes remains its “last advantage.” He said current production rates of Patriot systems are not sufficient to provide effective protection.
