Trump enters final NATO summit day as Ukraine, defense spending take center stage

President Donald Trump enters the final day of the NATO summit Wednesday as alliance leaders seek to project unity on defense spending, support for Ukraine and the future of transatlantic security following a series of headline-making announcements and bilateral meetings during the opening day of the gathering.

Trump will join fellow NATO leaders for the summit's only plenary session before holding bilateral meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He is expected to conclude the summit with a press conference before departing Ankara, Turkey, for Washington.

The final day comes after Trump used Tuesday's bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to announce the United States would lift sanctions on Turkey, saying, "We don't sanction friends." Trump also signaled he is prepared to move forward with the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Ankara despite years of U.S. opposition stemming from Turkey's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system.

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Wednesday's agenda is expected to focus on the alliance's efforts to strengthen collective defense as members continue implementing higher defense spending commitments and coordinate support for Ukraine more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion.

Trump's meeting with Zelenskyy will be among the day's most closely watched events as Kyiv continues pressing allies for military assistance and air defense capabilities while seeking to maintain Western backing for its war effort against Russia.

Kyiv has warned it is running critically low on Patriot interceptor missiles, which Ukrainian officials describe as the country's most effective defense against Russia's ballistic missile attacks. Ukrainian officials said none of the ballistic missiles launched during a massive barrage this week could be intercepted because of dwindling supplies.

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Ahead of the summit, Ukrainian officials appealed to nearly 40 partner nations to immediately transfer Patriot interceptors from their existing stockpiles while longer-term production catches up. Kyiv also has secured European backing for hundreds of Patriot missiles financed by Germany, though many of those deliveries are not expected for months or years, underscoring Ukraine's push for allies to bridge the gap with existing inventories.

Trump also is expected to meet with Syrian President al-Sharaa, whose government has sought closer engagement with Washington following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime, a shift that has reshaped the security landscape in the Middle East and created new opportunities for U.S.-Turkish cooperation.

Trump is expected to cap the summit with a press conference outlining the administration's priorities for the alliance and any agreements reached during the two-day gathering before departing Turkey Wednesday afternoon.

Wednesday's discussions also are expected to focus on how allies turn 2025's landmark commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense and defense-related investments into tangible military capabilities. 

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member nations to present "clear, concrete and credible plans" for meeting the target, arguing the alliance must accelerate the production of weapons, ammunition and military infrastructure to deter Russia.

The final day also follows another round of criticism from Trump aimed at European allies. Speaking Tuesday, the president again questioned whether NATO members were doing enough to support the United States and suggested he could withdraw U.S. troops from Europe as he renewed his push for U.S. control of Greenland.

"With all the money we spend to help them with Russia … we don't have to spend any money. We could remove all of our soldiers out of Europe," Trump said. He also complained that despite America's investment in European security, "you would think they'd be very willing to do something to help us, and they really weren't."