Staff Reports
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has laid down a simple demand: NATO must make “strong decisions” at the Ankara summit and stop leaving Patriot missiles in warehouses while Kyiv gets hit by ballistic strikes. He made the plea after a major missile-and-drone attack on Kyiv and ahead of his face-to-face meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit. This is a test of words versus action — and action is what Ukraine, and common sense, need.
Zelensky’s urgent appeal
After a deadly strike that Ukrainian officials say saw ballistic missiles penetrate air defenses, Zelensky pushed NATO leaders to move Patriot interceptor missiles out of national stockpiles and into Ukrainian units. He said Ukrainian forces are handling drones and cruise missiles, but they are short on interceptors for ballistic threats. Translation: when ammo is kept in a warehouse, it does no good for civilians under attack. If anyone wants to call that cautious policy “prudence,” they can do it from a safe bunker in Brussels.
Why Patriot missiles matter — and why delay is costly
Patriot batteries are among the few systems that can reliably stop ballistic missiles. Ukraine says Russia is launching more ballistic weapons than Ukraine has interceptors, creating dangerous gaps in defense. Political squabbling and slow logistics leave Kyiv exposed. NATO has tools like the PURL procurement channels, but those mechanisms only work fast if political leaders decide to move quickly. Waiting for committees and working groups is not a plan; it’s a timetable for more rubble and more funerals.
Trump’s meeting — the moment of truth
President Donald Trump is set to meet President Zelensky at the Ankara summit after talking separately with both Zelensky and President Vladimir Putin over the weekend. That puts the U.S. in the driver’s seat to press for fast transfers, to promise logistics and to offer replacements for any gaps created by shipments. Trump has made no secret of wanting NATO members to pull their weight. If leaders can summon the courage to pledge Patriot missiles and a clear replacement plan, that will be real leadership. If not, expect a lot of speeches and very little change on the ground.
What NATO must do next
NATO leaders should give Ukraine a clear, political yes: authorize immediate transfers of Patriot interceptors where they exist, commit to a timeline and fund replacements so donor countries are not left defenseless afterward. Anything less is a half-measure that rewards aggression. The Ankara summit is the place to make that call. If allies prefer to argue about procurement schedules, they should at least stop pretending warehouses are a defense plan. The stakes are plain: more interceptors could save lives. Hesitation will not.
