President Donald Trump is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where Zelenskyy plans to directly appeal for aid in replenishing depleted U.S.-made ammunition stocks essential for Ukraine's defense.
"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," Zelenskyy stated at a defense industry forum during the alliance's annual summit on Tuesday.
The meeting occurs as the expenditure of U.S. Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles in Ukraine and the Middle East has significantly exceeded current production capacities, leading to a critical global shortage amid the protracted Russia-Ukraine war. Russia has been exploiting this deficit by conducting concentrated bombardments of ballistic missiles and drone swarms against Ukrainian targets, overwhelming the country's defensive capabilities and causing numerous civilian casualties.
Zelenskyy addressed NATO members on Tuesday, highlighting the severity of the missile shortage and advocating for Europe to develop its own systems to counter Russian ballistic missiles, which he described as Moscow's "last major advantage." He acknowledged the effectiveness of the Patriot system but noted that current production levels are insufficient to meet the demand for protection against ballistic missiles.
Trump expressed a more optimistic view, suggesting that an end to the conflict, now in its fifth year, could be approaching. "I think we're getting much closer than people realize, and President Putin wants it to end. And President Zelenskyy actually wants it to end now," Trump said on Monday. He also characterized the war as a European issue that "doesn't affect us."
These remarks come as Russia has escalated its attacks, with recent strikes targeting Ukraine's military-industrial complex and energy infrastructure in and around Kyiv, according to Russia's defense ministry. Zelenskyy has been alerting the Trump administration to the critical depletion of interceptor missiles for weeks and is also urging the U.S. to expedite a license that would permit Ukraine to manufacture Patriot batteries and interceptors domestically.
The bilateral meeting will test the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy, which has been marked by occasional strain. Their first meeting of Trump's second term in February 2025 reportedly included a heated exchange after Trump questioned Ukraine's stance in the conflict and requested greater acknowledgment of U.S. support from Zelenskyy.
However, Trump's engagement with the Ukrainian cause has reportedly grown more sympathetic over the past year, particularly as diplomatic efforts with Russia have faltered. A significant development occurred last July when, after previously pausing military aid, Trump agreed to supply weapons to Ukraine if purchased from the U.S. by NATO allies.
In recent weeks, Trump has reportedly re-engaged in efforts to broker peace, holding calls with both Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend. While the substance of these conversations is unclear, a Kremlin aide stated that Trump spoke with Putin for 90 minutes and reiterated his offer to help end the war. Zelenskyy described his call with Trump as "very good" and noted a "real prospect" for peace.
Trump's last meeting with Zelenskyy was at the G7 summit in June, where he appeared to be supportive of Ukraine's position, labeling Russia as the "offensive" party and pledging to do whatever he could to reach a deal. French President Emmanuel Macron, who hosted the summit, expressed optimism about Trump's evolving attitude toward supporting Ukraine.
