Zelensky jokes about meeting Putin: "There are many Ukrainian drones there"
Ukrainian President Zelensky joked about a possible meeting with Putin in Moscow at the NATO summit in Ankara, referring to successful Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian territory.
During the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump met. In front of journalists, Zelensky joked about a possible meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Moscow, saying "there are many Ukrainian drones there." The joke referenced recent successful Ukrainian drone strikes inside Russia.
On the night before Tuesday, Ukrainian forces attacked enterprises in the Bryansk region and an oil base near Belgorod airport. While the Ukrainian General Staff statement did not mention attacks on Moscow or the region, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed over 400 drones were shot down. Ukrainian war monitoring channels reported explosions in the Moscow region. On Monday, Ukrainians successfully attacked Russia's largest oil refinery in Omsk.
At a joint press conference with Zelensky, Trump announced that the US will grant Ukraine the right to produce Patriot anti-aircraft missiles. "We will show them how to do it," Trump said, noting the process is complex but Ukrainians will handle it.
NATO leaders at the summit confirmed a commitment to provide military aid to Ukraine in 2026 and 2027 totaling 140 billion euros. The final declaration emphasized that Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security and allies stand firm in supporting Ukraine's freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. For 2026, 70 billion euros are pledged for military equipment, assistance, and training; for 2027, at least an equivalent level of support is ensured. The aid will mainly come from European NATO members and Canada.
