3 March 2025, 09:09

By David Kirichenko

'If we are not invited to NATO, we must build NATO on our territory,' said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with The Economist on February 12.

“If we are not invited to NATO, we must build NATO on our territory,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an interview with The Economist on February 12. His remarks came in response to signals from the Trump administration that Ukraine would not be joining the alliance.

Since 2022, Ukraine has steadily expanded its ability to strike deep into Russian territory, refining its long-range capabilities in the process. In his New Year’s address, Zelensky highlighted these efforts, stating that Ukraine now produces over a million drones annually while ramping up missile manufacturing, calling them Ukraine’s "arguments for a just peace."

Now as Ukraine enters its fourth year of war, long-range strike capabilities have become a cornerstone of its defense strategy. They are central to its effort to build NATO within its own borders.

While Western military aid remains critical, Kyiv’s ability to produce its own missiles is emerging as a key pillar of deterrence and a way to impose greater costs on the Kremlin. This shift in focus is also evident from Ukraine’s Western partners as Sweden’s latest $1.2 billion military aid package earmarked $90 million for Ukraine’s missile and drone production.

Ukraine has concentrated its attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, particularly oil refineries – the backbone of Moscow’s war effort. Drone and missile strikes have already knocked out 10% of Russia’s refining capacity, exposing the Kremlin’s vulnerability as it remains deeply........

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