Ukraine launched one of its broadest recent drone offensives against Russia’s maritime and energy networks this week, claiming strikes on 21 vessels in three days as attacks on major refineries deep inside Russia intensified pressure on Moscow’s fuel supplies.The wave of attacks offered a striking display of Ukraine’s growing long-range capabilities.On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, where Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air-defense interceptors and the two leaders discussed a potential drone agreement.TRUMP SAYS US WILL LET UKRAINE MAKE PATRIOT MISSILES IN MAJOR POLICY SHIFTDrone footage shows fire and smoke rising from, what the Rostov region Governor said, was an empty oil tanker, following Ukraine's overnight drone attacks on Russia, confirmed by the Ukrainian military, at a place given as the Sea of Azov, in this screengrab from a handout video released on July 8, 2026. (Commander of Unmanned Aerial Systems Force/Handout via REUTERS )Zelenskyy made air defense his top priority during the bilateral meeting and said the two governments had also begun working on a separate drone agreement."Air defense is the priority," Zelenskyy said.He described the emerging drone deal as "a very good beginning" and said he hoped to discuss additional details with Trump.The timing allowed Zelenskyy to arrive at the summit with evidence that Ukraine’s domestic drone industry can threaten Russian assets far beyond the conventional battlefield.UKRAINE’S BATTLEFIELD IS TRANSFORMING THE FUTURE OF NATOU.S.
President Donald Trump holds a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alongside the NATO leaders summit at the Bestepe Presidential Compound, in Ankara, Turkey, July 8, 2026 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)Trump praised Zelenskyy as "very effective" and credited Ukrainian forces with successfully operating American weapons against Russia’s much lar...