Ankara, July 8: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the NATO summit in Ankara to secure urgent air defense reinforcements, specifically targeting anti-ballistic missile collaboration. The high-level dialogue on Wednesday coincided with a fresh wave of Russian aerial bombardments directed at major Ukrainian metropolitan areas. The Ukrainian leader detailed the critical situation to his Italian counterpart, requesting additional defense systems as civilian areas face continued threat.
The president maintained that the impact of the ongoing aerial operations has brought severe loss to several regional hubs.
“Russia does not stop attacking our cities and communities. Today, there were ballistic missile strikes again, and attack drones were launched as well. Sadly, there are people killed in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson. Russia has taken the lives of five people. My condolences to their families and loved ones.”
Zelenskyy declared that developing a more cohesive defensive network across the continent represents a mutual security priority for all neighboring countries.
“We discussed the prospects for our joint work in Europe on anti-ballistic capabilities to provide greater protection for everyone — both Ukraine and every country.”
The push for additional specialized hardware remains a central element of Ukraine’s broader diplomatic goals at the summit. The president affirmed that Italy’s historical support provides a reliable foundation for these critical negotiations.
“We spoke about the need for additional interceptors, and we are counting very much on support. Italy has always helped in a principled way to protect life.”
The bilateral meeting occurred alongside broader diplomatic activity at the summit regarding potential resolutions to the conflict. US President Donald Trump stated that his recent discussions with both leadership camps suggested a shared interest in reaching a settlement, though he noted the heavy human cost of the ongoing fighting. Trump asserted that while the geographical distance limits the direct impact on the United States, the scale of destruction across European territory remains deeply concerning.
