Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the priority topic for the Ukrainian delegation on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington will be strengthening air defense to protect against Russian attacks.

"We will talk with countries. We have a sufficient number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit. There we will discuss priorities, first of all, air defense systems. I think after this (the strike on Okhmatdyt) both President Biden and other leaders may be more powerful and more decisive than they were up to this point," Zelenskyy said during a conversation with reporters before the start of a gala event in honor of the 75th anniversary of the creation of NATO in Washington.

He also thanked the United States for the voted package of military and financial support for Kyiv. "It is little by little coming onto the battlefield and little by little strengthening our army," the president said.

Previously, Zelenskyy stated the need to double the state's air defense during the current summer. He also stated that Ukraine needs at least seven air defense systems.