Zelensky pushes for NATO membership at Ankara defence forum amid mixed reactions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Defence Industry Forum in Ankara during the NATO summit, reiterating that full NATO accession is the only sustainable security solution for Eastern Europe. His speech was met with loud applause from leaders such as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, while Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš gave a restrained and uneasy response.

At the same event, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau made controversial remarks claiming that Russia had won the war in Ukraine and that the NATO summit was therefore pointless. His statement, echoed by some commentators, suggested a shift in Western diplomatic tone toward the conflict.

The contrasting responses highlighted divisions within the alliance over the pace and conditions of Ukraine’s possible NATO membership and underscored the ongoing diplomatic challenges surrounding the war.