At the annual NATO summit in Ankara, President Zelensky advocated for Ukraine's inclusion in the alliance, citing its proven battlefield capabilities. He highlighted Ukraine's successful long-range drone attacks against Russia and its defensive strength. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's military prowess would significantly enhance NATO's collective defense. He questioned whether it was appropriate to exclude a country demonstrating such robust defensive capabilities. While boasting about drone capabilities, Ukraine also acknowledged its need for assistance in countering Russia's ballistic missiles. Zelensky urged Europe to develop its own capacity for anti-ballistic systems to address Russia's remaining major advantage. He argued that Ukraine's de facto military integration with Western allies further justified its NATO membership. This argument is notable as Moscow previously cited Ukraine's NATO aspirations as a rationale for its military actions. Russia, now officially referring to the conflict as a "war," maintains its demand for Ukraine to reject NATO membership and recognize its control over annexed territories. Western leaders, however, remain hesitant to fast-track Ukraine's NATO entry, fearing a direct conflict between NATO and Russia.