Politics News

NATO's Ankara summit pledges $80bn for Ukraine as Trump offers Kyiv a licence to make Patriots

NATO leaders ended their summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, July 8, with a declaration naming Russia as a long-term threat to Euro-Atlantic security. AP, in a report carried by NPR member station WHYY, said the 32 allies pledged $80 billion to help Ukraine meet its defence needs this year and next. Brussels Signal put the Ukraine package at €70 billion ($80 billion) for 2026, with at least the same promised for 2027, and listed more than $50 billion in new arms purchases.

The headline moment came when Donald Trump met Volodymyr Zelenskyy and said the US would license Ukraine to manufacture Patriot air defence systems, a reversal of earlier US resistance. AP described the tone as markedly warmer than in past encounters.

“We've actually developed a good relationship. It's hard to believe.” — Donald Trump on Zelenskyy, via AP

Trump also called Spain “a terrible partner in NATO” over the Iran war, criticised the UK and Italy, and repeated that the US should control Greenland. Brussels Signal quoted Denmark's Mette Frederiksen replying that “Greenland is, of course, not for sale.”

How each outlet framed it

• AP — Trump wrapping up on a positive note, with Patriots, a “security package” for Ukraine and a Pentagon review of US troop levels in Europe.
• Brussels Signal — the money and the gaps: fuel pipelines for the eastern flank, Belgium, Spain, Slovenia and Czechia still short of 2%, and makers not yet told about the Patriot licence.
• Ukrainska Pravda — the Ukrainian angle, tracking the planned Trump–Zelenskyy meeting on July 8.

What we don't know yet: Brussels Signal said it was unclear which Patriot interceptor Ukraine would build or where production would take place.