Zelensky Urges NATO for Air Defenses, Cites Patriot Missile Shortage

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky calls for air defences ‘today’ to stop Putin and says Kyiv belongs in Nato

Putin exploiting acute shortage of Patriot missiles and using this to increase attacks on Ukraine, says Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine “belongs in Nato” as he pleaded with the alliance to urgently supply it with air defence supplies.

He added that Europe urgently needs to develop its own anti-ballistic missile production “urgently” and cannot wait till 2030, but needs the weapons “today”.

“Europe needs its own effective ant-ballistic missiles and systems. This work is already underway. I urge you and all of our partners to give it the attention it deserves,” he said.

“Please help us get more air defence missiles,” he said asking for support for Kyiv. “We are capable of doing everything else ourselves.”

He is to meet with President Donald Trump at the Nato summit this week as he hopes to press the allaince for interceptors after Ukraine was unable to down any of the missiles fired by Russia on Monday.

Patriot missiles are the only weapon that can ​shoot ⁠down ballistic projectiles.

He said it was "simply nonsensical that, in the modern world, production has still not been scaled up to the level actually required to protect people from ballistic terror".

Ukraine belongs in Nato, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine “belongs in Nato” as he thanked allies and expressed pride in the Ukrainian people and their resilience throughout the war.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 12:28

Zelensky: Ukraine and Europe 'urgently' need anti-ballistic missiles

Europe urgently needs to develop its anti-ballistic missile production, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.

“Europe needs its own effective ant-ballistic missiles and systems. This work is already underway. I urge you and all of our partners to give it the attention it deserves,” he said.

Providing an example of Patriot missiles, he also said other versions were available. He said Europe could not wait until 2030 but needs the equipment “today”.

“Please help us get more air defence missiles,” he said. “We are capable of doing everything else ourselves.”

He said that he hopes air defence supplies will be the outcome of the Nato summit.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 12:26

Zelensky says drone technology is the biggest revolution in warfare since WW2

President Volodymyr Zelensky is explaining the revolutionary nature of drone warfare, describing it as the biggest change in conflict since machine guns were used in World War II.

He has described his country’s war aims as “defending Ukraine from Russian attacks and carrying out our long-range sanctions” as well as medium-range strikes.

Zelensky says that Ukraine is a source of “extraordinary” defensive capability.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 12:20

Rutte reiterates the importance of transatlantic alliance

Nato chief Mark Rutte is reiterating the importance of the transatlantic alliance, while he emphasises the need for Europe to develop independence from the US.

It is also important “not to see governments as the only stakeholders it but should be combination of contributions, including industry,” says Chairman of the Centre for Economics and Foreign Policy Studies (EDAM) Tacan Ildem.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 12:13

President Trump arrives at Nato summit in Ankara

President Donald Trump has arrived at the Nato summit in Ankara on Tuesday.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 12:04

Russia says it will follow Nato summit closely, says Kremlin

Russia will closely follow the outcome of Nato’s summit in Turkey, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, adding that “confrontational” statements about Russia had been made in the run-up to the meeting.

Nato leaders plan to unveil arms deals worth tens of billions of dollars in Ankara on Tuesday to show they are heeding US calls to spend more to defend Europe, before joining President Donald Trump for the summit.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 11:49

Zelensky due to speak at Nato summit imminently

President Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived at the Nato summit in Ankara on Tuesday.

He is set to give a speech alongside Nato secretary general Mark Rutte at 2pm BST (1pm CEST).

We will bring you the updates as they come in.

You can watch a live stream of the summit here:

Maira Butt7 July 2026 11:42

Zelensky arrives at Nato summit

Maira Butt7 July 2026 11:31

Russia’s population crisis is driving a new push for marriage and bigger families

One Saturday afternoon in May 2026, families gathered on Poklonnaya Gora, a hilltop war memorial park in western Moscow. They came for a procession and a “moleben,” an Orthodox prayer service, for the well-being of Russian families. Church media billed it as the first Day of the Sanctity of the Family.

May 30 is the feast of St. Evdokia of Moscow, a 14th-century princess who took monastic vows late in life after being widowed. Her husband, St. Dmitry Donskoy, a prince who led a victory over the Mongols, is commemorated on June 1. The church joined the two into a single couple’s feast in 2015, with a decree stressing that they were “parents of twelve children.”

Just over five weeks later, Russians will celebrate another “holy couple.” July 8 honours Sts. Peter and Fevronia, a 13th-century prince and princess venerated as patrons of marriage and famed for their devotion to each other. First celebrated in 2008, the day became an official national holiday in 2022, though not a day off from work.

Inside Russia’s campaign to promote marriage, families and more births

Russia’s population has been shrinking for most of the past decade

Maira Butt7 July 2026 11:00

Ukraine strikes Russian military-industrial plants in Bryansk region, Kyiv says

Ukraine's military said on Tuesday it struck two plants linked to Russia's military-industrial complex in the Bryansk region overnight.

One of the plants was run by Kremniy EL Group - a microelectronics group in Bryansk, which makes elements for military electronic warfare systems - the military's General Staff said in a statement on Telegram.

A chemicals plant which makes gunpowder, explosives and rocket fuel components used in the manufacture of ammunition and missiles, was also hit in the surrounding region, it added.

Maira Butt7 July 2026 10:25