Former NATO ambassador credits Trump for historic NATO defense spending
The upcoming NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkey, has caught the attention of former U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Kurt Volker. As President Donald Trump gears up to attend the event, Volker has highlighted key points of focus for the U.S. administration. Chief among these is Trump’s ongoing campaign for increased defense spending from NATO allies. Volker also navigates the complex terrain of fostering unity within the alliance, a task made more challenging in light of recent operations involving Iran. He underscores NATO’s longstanding role in deterring aggression and the crucial support it extended to the U.S. after the events of 9/11.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is amplifying calls for further assistance from the United States and Europe. His urgent plea for more missile support underscores Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to fortify its defenses against relentless Russian assaults.
“Last night, Kyiv came under a massive Russian attack. Russia launched 68 missiles and 351 attack drones,” Zelenskyy reported in a recent Monday post on X, detailing the scale of the offensive.
At the same summit, President Trump will address the gathering in Ankara, marking a significant appearance in the international diplomatic sphere this week.
Zelenskyy is urging the U.S. and its European partners to emerge from the NATO meeting with robust resolutions that enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. His rallying cry for “strong decisions” reflects a steadfast determination to strengthen his nation’s security infrastructure.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference after meetings with the heads of the EU and Ireland, following a formal ceremony to mark the launch of Ireland’s eighth EU presidency, at Dublin Castle in Dublin on July 1, 2026. (Paul Faith / AFP via Getty Images)
“Our warriors performed well today in intercepting drones and cruise missiles, but unfortunately not Russian ballistic missiles. And the reason lies in the insufficient supply of interceptor missiles. It is critically important that the world – first and foremost the United States and our European partners – come out of the NATO Summit in Ankara with strong decisions in support of our air defense, and thus the protection of ordinary people’s lives,” he noted in the post.
U.S. President Donald Trump walks to board Air Force One as he departs Bismarck Municipal Airport on July 01, 2026 in Bismarck, North Dakota. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
“As long as Patriot missiles remain in our allies’ stockpiles, Russia is only encouraged to keep ‘vanquishing’ residential buildings. The United States and Europe have enough strength to stop this terror,” he asserted.
Zelenskyy’s comments come amid the ongoing, years-long war between Russia and Ukraine.
Large banners on an office complex near the Presidential Palace, the venue for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) summit, in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday, July 6, 2026. (Kerem Uzel/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Reuters reported that Zelenskyy, new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to have dinner with NATO leaders on Tuesday.