Zelensky presses NATO for air defence systems after intense Russian strikes

Russian social media is filled with videos of people queuing for hours to buy petrol and fighting over limited supplies. This is part of Ukraine's "influence campaign" aimed at pressuring Russia into peace talks.

On the eve of the NATO meeting in Turkey, Zelensky expressed hope that the gathering would not be "empty". NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on member states to "pull their weight" and ensure Ukraine gets what it needs to defend its sovereignty. He noted that Kyiv is "changing the dynamic on the battlefield", stalling Russian ground forces in the east.

Russia's ballistic missiles are causing major problems for Ukraine. Ukraine's air force daily reports the number of weapons launched by Moscow and those intercepted. On Monday, almost all drones were blocked, but not a single ballistic missile was stopped. These missiles travel at several thousand kilometres per hour, and Ukraine lacks enough US-made Patriot missiles to counter them.

"It is simply absurd that production has not been scaled up to the level required to protect people from ballistic terror," Zelensky said, calling on European allies to hand over their Patriot stocks. He argued that missiles in storage are useless while civilians are being killed. However, Patriot systems are in short supply worldwide, and it's unclear how many would be enough if Russia escalates.

Zelensky also mentioned Ukraine producing its own equivalent with NATO help. Russia's attacks suggest that Ukraine's deep strikes are getting under the Kremlin's skin. Moscow accuses Kyiv of "terrorism" for hitting its oil refineries with drones. Strikes have hit St Petersburg, Moscow, and even an oil refinery in Omsk, Siberia, 2,500 km from Ukraine's border, exposing gaps in Russian air defences.

Ukrainian drones also target Crimea daily, hitting military logistics, oil refineries, and power plants, causing blackouts and shortages. A local resident described the situation as "catastrophic", reminiscent of the chaotic 1990s after the USSR collapsed. Putin claims to have saved Russia from that chaos, but now the war brings danger to Moscow and fuel rationing.

Zelensky will tell NATO, and try to persuade Trump, that Ukraine has turned the tide and that its pressure campaign can compel Russia to negotiate. Trump recently spoke with Putin by phone for 90 minutes. Kyiv wants to end the war quickly through "strength or diplomacy" before another harsh winter, but that requires more interceptor missiles to protect cities and civilians.