Zelenskyy Reiterates Call for NATO Membership, Air Defense Missiles
Would membership strengthen the alliance or drag it into direct conflict with Russia?
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Above: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at the NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey on July 7. Image credit: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Facts
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his call for Ukraine to be granted NATO membership during a summit of the alliance in Ankara, Turkey, on Tuesday.
- "I have a question for you," the Ukrainian leader said. "Do you really believe it? Do you really believe it would be right to leave outside NATO, a country and a people with this level of defensive capability?"
- "If we already have these capabilities, if Ukrainians already know how to fight like this, then it does make sense for these capabilities to become a part of the alliance’s collective defense that would make all of us stronger," he added.
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The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While NATO is a staunch defender of Ukraine, direct membership into the alliance is not possible while the war with Russia is ongoing. This would drag NATO into a direct war with Russia.
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© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 7.17.1
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 7.17.1