Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet former U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, to request assistance in replenishing depleted stocks of American-made Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles crucial for Ukraine's defense.
Speaking at a defense industry forum during the alliance's annual summit, Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency: "We need to find a way to get as quick as possible, as much as possible, missiles for Patriot systems. This is the most important thing."
The meeting occurs amid a critical global shortage of Patriot missiles, as expenditures in Ukraine and the Middle East have outpaced current production capabilities amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Zelenskyy also expressed a desire for the war to end promptly.
Trump, who had previously promised to end the war on his first day in office—a pledge he later described as hyperbolic—arrived at the summit with uncertain intentions regarding substantive talks. His first meeting with Zelenskyy in February 2025 reportedly devolved into a shouting match over Ukraine's position and U.S. support.
A Kremlin aide stated that Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for 90 minutes, again offering to help end the war. French President Emmanuel Macron, host of the G7 summit, expressed optimism about Trump's support for Ukraine, noting "a real change in comparison to recent months" in his attitude.
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