08/07/2026 13:13 - Internacionales
The Ukrainian leader will land in Ankara with a clear objective: to shield his country against Russian ballistic missiles and advance joint military production agreements.
On July 7, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will arrive in Ankara, Turkey, to participate in the margins of the annual NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) summit. His primary mission will be to meet with US President Donald Trump and European leaders to accelerate the transfer of air defense systems and interceptor missiles.
This visit occurs just one day after Russia launched an attack with 29 ballistic trajectory missiles against Kyiv and the town of Vishneve, leaving a toll of at least 26 dead. Ukrainian defenses failed to shoot down any of the projectiles, highlighting an extreme vulnerability that Zelensky described as the only clear advantage Russia retains in the conflict.
Zelensky is expected to express on social media that his priorities are new systems, missiles for those systems, and obtaining production licenses. Ukraine hopes to convince Trump to grant licenses to produce US technology, specifically PAC-3 missiles, known worldwide for their effectiveness in intercepting ballistic threats.
Currently, Ukraine receives most of these missiles through the PURL program, through which allied countries buy ammunition from the US to transfer it to Kyiv. However, following Trump's return to the White House, the US stopped approving new shipments of free weaponry.
As part of this diplomatic offensive, on July 8, 2026, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha will sign an agreement with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Ankara. The pact, framed within the Build with Ukraine initiative, will include the joint production of BARS, a missile-drone hybrid of Ukrainian design that has already been successfully used by Kyiv's forces.
Germany will finance the first production phase of these drones, which will be entirely destined for the Ukrainian Army. Additionally, the head of Ukrainian diplomacy will meet with his German counterpart, Johann Wadephul, to reiterate the urgency of receiving more air defense systems.
It is a joint initiative between Ukraine and several European nations that provides funds for the Ukrainian military industry to expand the production of its defense technology, allowing Europe to develop its own capabilities while supporting Kyiv's war effort.
Zelensky will consider the timeframe of one year realistic to begin producing these anti-ballistic systems in European territory, seeking to reduce dependence on immediate external aid.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
