EditUkraine leaves NATO summit with stronger U.S. backing and regional diplomatic gains
The Ankara meeting with Trump signals a shift in Washington's approach, while Kyiv also makes progress with Poland and Hungary
Ukraine emerged from this year’s NATO summit in Ankara with a series of political and strategic gains that exceeded expectations, securing fresh commitments from the Alliance, an apparent shift in U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to Kyiv and renewed diplomatic momentum with two of its closest neighbours, Poland and Hungary.
Ahead of the summit, NATO allies had already agreed on a package of measures aimed at strengthening long-term support for Ukraine’s armed forces, including new financial commitments and further steps towards integration with the Alliance. However, the most significant developments came during President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s bilateral meeting with Trump, which signalled a notable evolution in Washington’s position on Ukraine’s defence needs and the wider course of the war.
Trump announces U.S. license for Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles in meeting with Zelenskyy
The summit also offered Kyiv an opportunity to ease tensions with Warsaw and Budapest, potentially removing political obstacles that have complicated both regional cooperation and Ukraine’s path towards EU membership.
NATO commitments meet renewed U.S. engagement
The Ankara summit took place against the backdrop of continued Russian aggression and growing debate over Europe’s long-term security architecture. While NATO formally reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, much attention focused on Trump’s participation and his bilateral meetings with allied leaders.
The U.S. president arrived in Ankara amid renewed tensions with several NATO allies. He publicly criticised Spain and threatened trade measures after Madrid refused to authorise the use of Spanish air bases for U.S. bombers during operations against Iran. Trump also revived his controversial rhetoric on Greenland, again expressing his intention to acquire the Danish territory despite strong opposition from Copenhagen and other allies.
Against that backdrop, Trump’s approach towards Ukraine stood out.
According to the White House, Trump held only three full-size bilateral meetings during the summit: with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President Zelenskyy.
The meeting between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents lasted considerably longer than initially scheduled. After more than 40 minutes in front of the media, the two leaders continued behind closed doors for roughly another hour, underlining the importance both sides attached to the discussions.
Observers also noted Trump’s unusually strong engagement with Ukrainian journalists during the public portion of the meeting, repeatedly taking questions from the Ukrainian media contingent and inviting them to raise issues directly related to the war.
The most consequential outcome of the talks concerned Patriot air defence systems, specifically the PAC-3 interceptor missiles used to defend against ballistic missile attacks.
Any formal U.S. approval would still need to be followed by licensing decisions and the construction of production facilities, meaning Ukrainian-made interceptors would not enter service quickly. Even so, such a decision could have immediate political significance by encouraging partner countries to transfer additional missiles from their own stockpiles, knowing future production capacity would eventually increase.
A changing tone on the war
The summit also appeared to reflect a broader shift in Trump’s public rhetoric regarding Russia’s war against Ukraine.
One notable example was his support for Ukraine’s position on future peace negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also publicly defended Ukraine’s long-range strikes against Russian economic infrastructure, including oil refineries, arguing that such operations could contribute to ending the war.
The remarks contrasted with previous U.S. positions, which had generally avoided endorsing Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russia.
Is Trump encouraging Zelenskyy to hit Russia even harder to achieve peace?
Resetting relations with neighbours
Beyond defence, Ankara also produced diplomatic openings with two neighbours whose relations with Kyiv have recently been strained.
President Zelenskyy held an hour-long meeting with newly elected Polish President Karol Nawrocki following an informal exchange during the summit’s official dinner. While few details of the talks were disclosed, the meeting itself was widely viewed as an effort to stabilise bilateral relations after months of political tensions.
Although deep historical disputes remain unresolved, both sides appeared willing to maintain dialogue at a time when continued security cooperation remains vital.
Ukraine and Poland: when disputes over the past overshadow the essential
Perhaps the more unexpected breakthrough came in relations with Hungary.
Following his election, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar had insisted that his first meeting with Zelenskyy take place exclusively in the Transcarpathian town of Berehove, a condition Kyiv regarded as politically unacceptable. Ukraine instead proposed alternative venues, including Kyiv, Budapest and Brussels, but negotiations remained deadlocked.
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Discussions in Ankara appear to have broken that impasse.
According to Magyar, the two leaders agreed in principle to meet either in Budapest or Kyiv before travelling together to Berehove. Ukrainian officials have also confirmed that diplomatic contacts have resumed, including talks between Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his Hungarian counterpart Anita Orbán.
A meeting between the two leaders could prove politically significant, particularly if it helps remove Hungary’s objections to further progress in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations.
A longer version of this article in Ukrainian by EUalive’s partner European pravda can be found here.
Caption: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky looks on during a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Merz (unseen) on the sidelines of the 2026 NATO Heads of State and Government Summit in Ankara, Turkey, 7 July 2026. The summit took place on 7 and 8 July, focusing on strengthening defense industrial production and securing long-term military aid for Ukraine. EPA/Michael Kappeler / POOL
Updated: July 9, 2026 - 18:38
