Ukraine's president addressed the NATO meeting in Turkey to call on allies for immediate delivery of air defense equipment that Kyiv requires to shield itself from growing Russian assaults.

"We can manage all other tasks on our own, yet air defense demands firm action from our partners," Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday morning.

His appeal carries added weight after Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian capital twice within days, striking residential buildings and claiming over 50 civilian lives.

The Ankara summit offers Zelensky an opportunity for a key discussion with Donald Trump, where he will argue that Russia's harsh strikes reveal weakness rather than power and that Vladimir Putin must face pressure for talks leading to an honorable peace.

These recent attacks occur while Ukraine intensifies its long-range drone operations against Russia, targeting oil facilities and military sites that have triggered fuel shortages and electricity disruptions.

Moscow's mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that defenses intercepted most of the 430 drones launched by Ukraine toward the capital overnight, though damage details remain unclear.

Russian online platforms show scenes of lengthy queues for fuel and disputes over limited supplies.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte urged members ahead of the summit to contribute fully so Ukraine receives the tools needed to safeguard its independence.

He noted that Kyiv is shifting battlefield momentum by slowing Russian advances in the east, aided by the drone strikes.

The term "window of opportunity" has gained prominence in discussions.

Yet as aerial conflict escalates, Russian ballistic missiles pose serious challenges for Kyiv.

Ukraine's air force releases daily counts of launched weapons and interceptions.

On Monday nearly all drones were stopped, but ballistic missiles proved far harder to counter.

No ballistic missiles were intercepted during that strike.

The task is difficult because they travel at thousands of kilometers per hour and Ukraine lacks sufficient US-made Patriot missiles.

"It is simply absurd that production has not expanded enough in today's world to shield people from ballistic terror," Zelensky said in a Monday video message expressing frustration.

He has pressed European allies to release their Patriot missile reserves, noting they serve no purpose in storage while civilians face attacks now.

"Russia bets on ballistic weapons, so those seeking peace must bet on defense against them," Zelensky stated on Monday to outline his Ankara agenda.

Patriot systems remain scarce globally, and it is uncertain how many would suffice against further Russian escalation.

This is why Zelensky also advocates for Ukraine to build its own systems with NATO support.

The Russian strikes indicate that Ukraine's deep attacks are affecting the Kremlin.

After years of Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian sites including power plants in winter, Moscow now labels Kyiv's refinery attacks as terrorism.

Zelensky describes them as an influence effort and plans to brief NATO allies on details.

The goal is to push Putin toward peace talks acceptable to Kyiv, excluding full surrender of the eastern Donbas as Moscow demands.

Targets have included prominent sites.

A St Petersburg oil terminal faced drone strikes before Putin's economic forum in June, followed by hits on a Moscow refinery that produced viral explosion footage.

A confirmed strike now hit an Omsk refinery in Siberia, 2,500 km from the border, showing how far Ukrainian drones can reach undetected and exposing gaps in Russian defenses.

Ukraine's efforts also cover Crimea, seized by Putin in 2014 and personally vital to him.

Drones strike military sites, refineries and power plants there daily, leading to outages, shortages and an emergency declaration.

A local resident described conditions to the BBC as catastrophic, evoking the 1990s turmoil after the Soviet collapse.

Putin has long claimed he rescued Russia from that disorder and restored its standing.

His full-scale war now brings drone threats to Moscow and fuel rationing across regions.

Zelensky will tell NATO and seek to convince Trump that Ukraine has reversed the war's course and that its pressure campaign, with added support, can force Russia into genuine peace negotiations.

Trump has appeared favorable toward Ukraine recently, though he held a 90-minute call with Putin this week allowing the Russian leader to present his account first.

Kyiv above all seeks a swift end through strength or diplomacy before another harsh winter arrives.

To achieve this Zelensky will stress that Ukraine requires more interceptor missiles to defend its cities and people.