NATO summit in Ankara kicks into high gear as US-Iran truce shaken

NATO leaders met for a summit in Ankara, Turkey, on 8 July 2026 and adopted the Ankara declaration, which reaffirmed what they called “ironclad” joint defence. Allies backed a bigger defence push and reaffirmed support for Ukraine, and German outlets wrote that NATO states promised Ukraine a multibillion sum at the summit. Tagesschau described the closing declaration as surprisingly harmonious. Ankara had stepped up security measures, and the summit took place as the US-Iran truce was shaken.

On the sidelines, Meloni confirmed continued support for Ukraine in a meeting with Zelensky, and she was cool toward Trump, whom she criticised over Iran. Bulgaria’s PM Radev also met Zelensky in Ankara for energy talks. Al Jazeera’s Arabic service described a private hotel for Trump and a nearly empty city.