At a NATO defense industry forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the alliance to admit his country, arguing that Ukraine’s hard-won defensive capabilities would strengthen the entire bloc. He acknowledged, however, that Kyiv still needs European-made anti-ballistic systems to replace scarce U.S. Patriot interceptors. A senior NATO official briefed that Russia fired roughly 8,300 projectiles at Ukraine in May—including thousands of drones and over 200 missiles—while Ukraine responded with 10,000 long-range drones into Russia. The official also noted that Russia’s recent territorial gains have slowed sharply, with daily advances falling to a quarter of last year’s pace, though Moscow continues to suffer heavy monthly casualties. Ukraine’s NATO membership remains unlikely while the war persists, as key allies oppose admitting a country actively fighting nuclear-armed Russia.