The two-day NATO summit concluded in Ankara, Turkey, on July 8. Although US President Donald Trump once again criticised some allies for insufficient defence spending and expressed frustration over their lack of support for US military action against Iran, the summit ultimately sent a message of unity, with a more positive stance emerging on Ukraine.
During the summit, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and announced that the US would allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missiles, while providing technical guidance. Ukraine has repeatedly warned of shortages in air defence systems, while intensified Russian airstrikes have increased pressure on Kyiv’s defence capabilities.
Beyond granting production approval, Trump also adopted a more supportive tone towards Ukraine, praising Zelenskyy’s performance during the war and saying that the two leaders had developed a good relationship. NATO members also pledged to provide Ukraine with around €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training in 2026, while maintaining similar levels of support in 2027.
The summit also reaffirmed NATO’s Article 5 collective defence commitment and announced more than US$50 billion in new military procurement plans to strengthen defence production capacity. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also highlighted that European allies and Canada had significantly increased defence spending in recent years.
Meanwhile, US-Iran military tensions escalated again during the summit. Trump ordered retaliatory action against Iran in response to an alleged Iranian attack on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Rutte said NATO had not ruled out playing a role in future Middle East developments but would assess the situation as it evolves.
Commentary:
Trump’s more positive signals towards Ukraine at the NATO summit mark a noticeable shift from his previous criticism of Zelenskyy and scepticism towards continued aid for Kyiv. Allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles not only addresses Ukraine’s long-standing shortage of air defence systems but also demonstrates that Washington still seeks to maintain strategic influence over the conflict.
However, it remains unclear whether this represents a long-term change in US policy towards Ukraine. Trump has consistently pressured European allies to increase defence spending and argued that the US has carried too much of the security burden. NATO’s latest commitments on military spending and aid also align with his demand for greater burden-sharing among allies.
While the summit provided Ukraine with additional support and temporarily demonstrated NATO unity, the key challenge for Kyiv remains securing long-term, stable and reliable international backing.