Ankara, July 8 (dpa/GNA) – Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, is leaving the NATO summit in Ankara with promises for military aid worth €140 billion ($160 billion) for the years 2026 and 2027, as well as permission to start producing missiles for the US-made Patriot air defence system.
“Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security, and Allies stand united in our unwavering support for Ukraine in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” a joint declaration adopted by NATO leaders on Wednesday read.
Zelensky, who attended the NATO summit as a guest, had travelled to the Turkish capital to plead for more support, after a series of deadly Russian attacks on his country.
“For 2026, Allies pledge €70 billion in military equipment, assistance and training for Ukraine and affirm their sovereign commitments to sustaining at least equivalent levels in 2027,” the NATO statement read. The aid is to be mainly provided by European NATO members and Canada, as the United States has strongly reduced financial support for Kiev under President Donald Trump.
Germany has already said it is planning to support Ukraine with €11.5 billion in 2026. The funding, however, is to include an EU loan to support Ukraine’s Armed Forces worth €60 billion for the 2026-27 period. This leaves around €40 billion that NATO allies would have to cover from their national budgets per year. “We will continue to help Ukraine,”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on the sidelines of the Ankara summit. Despite having reduced financial contributions to Ukraine’s defence, Trump said Kiev will get permission to produce missiles for the Patriot air defence system in Ukraine, in a major win for Kiev. “I think we’re going to make that deal,” Trump said on Wednesday, speaking alongside Zelensky. “We’re going to give a licence to you to make Patriots,” he said. “It’s very complex, actually, but … you’ll figure out the complexity quickly.” “Most countries would not be able, they don’t have the talent. You have very talented people,” Trump added, praising the abilities of the Ukrainian armed forces.
The US president, who met Zelensky on the sidelines of the NATO summit, said he thinks Ukraine will be able to produce the missiles “pretty quickly.” Patriot missiles are regarded as critical to Ukraine’s air defences, but Kiev has repeatedly complained that supplies from its Western allies have fallen short of what it needs to repel Russian ballistic missile attacks.
The war in Iran and Washington’s need for the missiles, have put additional strain on Kiev’s supply, prompting Ukraine to call for permission to produce the missiles itself.
Addressing the press together, Trump and Zelensky appeared to have mended their at times rocky relationship. When asked by a journalist if Trump would visit Ukraine, the US president responded jokingly: “I’m not sure Secret Service would be thrilled,” but stated he “would go to Ukraine at the right time.”
GNA