Ukraine is gaining the battlefield initiative against Russia through technological advances and drone warfare, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Wednesday during a joint news conference with President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.

"We are trying to move this war to the sky from the battlefield," Zelenskyy told reporters. "That's why we now began to control the battlefield. This is very important."

However, he acknowledged that the fight is difficult, given that there are fewer Ukrainians than Russians.

"We found another way to do it, to cut their logistics for their army," he said. "It's about weapons, petrol, diesel, without massive human losses. That is the difference between us, by the way."

Zelenskyy said Ukraine has taken "better steps, technological steps than Russia," and that it "may be quicker" even though Russia produces a "lot of different things, which are tough, strong against us, but we are quicker," Zelenskyy said.

"And that's why I think that now the initiative moved to our hands, not totally, but moved," he said.

Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is trying to shift the conflict away from traditional ground combat, and said that air defense, negotiations, and a possible drone agreement with the United States were among the top issues he planned to discuss with Trump.

"The second point, or maybe the first about negotiations. I think yes, we understand what to do. It's our estimation what to do, how to bring this. And I hope that we will do. I'm sure that you will do everything to solve this war," Zelenskyy said.

He noted that he is pleased that the Ukrainians and the United States have begun to work on a drone deal.

"It's a very good beginning," he said, telling Trump that he hopes to discuss "some very important details" with him on Wednesday.

Zelenskyy also praised Trump's proposal to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile systems under license.

"The Patriot system is the best in the world, the best anti-ballistic system," Zelenskyy said. "With all respect to other partners, we are thankful for all the Patriot systems."

When Trump suggested Ukraine could produce the systems itself, Zelenskyy replied: "No, no, it's a great idea. I think everybody likes that one."