Zelenskyy meets Meloni, Costa, US lawmakers and South Korean president at NATO summit
Volodymyr Zelenskyy held four meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara (Photo: REUTERS/Isabel Infantes)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Ankara, Turkiye, where the NATO summit is being held, according to his post on X on July 8.
He said he discussed with the Italian prime minister prospects for joint European work on anti-ballistic missile defense. "To provide greater protection for everyone – both Ukraine and every country," Zelenskyy said.
The Ukrainian president also reported meeting with European Council President António Costa, with whom he discussed opening the remaining five negotiating clusters for Ukraine's EU accession talks.
Zelenskyy also met with a bicameral, bipartisan delegation from the U.S. Congress — Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Lindsey Graham, Dick Durbin, Chris Coons, and Mike Rounds, along with Rep. Mike Turner.
The Ukrainian president said he briefed the American delegation on Ukraine's shortage of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. "Right now, contributions to PURL and other air defense deliveries are the top priority for defense," he said.
According to Zelenskyy, the meeting also touched on a bill concerning sanctions against Russia. "It is critical to continue increasing pressure on Russia for this war, and this initiative can truly help to advance peace," he said.
Zelenskyy also met in Ankara with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. He thanked South Korea for its recent decision to allocate $100 million toward a comprehensive support package for Ukraine.
The NATO summit is being held July 7-8 in Ankara, Turkiye. On July 7, on the sidelines of the summit, Ukraine signed defense agreements under the "Drone Deal" framework with Estonia, the Netherlands and Denmark, and is preparing a similar agreement with Canada. The agreements call for joint development of drone production, defense technologies and air defense capabilities.
On July 8, Zelenskyy is also expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy has said he plans to raise with Trump the urgent issue of securing Patriot interceptor missiles for Ukraine.
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