Zelenskyy: Ukraine will be present at the NATO summit in Turkey
The Ukrainian president confirmed participation at the summit set for July 7-8 in Ankara, but did not specify the level of representation.
KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that Ukraine will attend the NATO summit set for July 7-8, 2026, in Ankara, Turkey. According to Telegrafi, this will be the 36th meeting of the Alliance’s leaders and the first held in Turkey during an active war in Europe.
Zelenskyy said the format and level of Ukraine’s representation have not yet been decided, but stressed that Kyiv will have a voice in the main discussions. The attendance comes as Ukraine’s membership bid remains active, even though partners within the Alliance remain divided over the right timing for enlargement.
The summit is expected to be dominated by long-term military support for Ukraine, security guarantees and allies’ defense spending. Some member states have signaled they want a concrete package for Kyiv, while others want to focus on a possible ceasefire.
Moldova’s role and the “Coalition of the Willing”
In a parallel development, Moldovan President Maia Sandu has discussed the possibility of a Moldovan contribution to the “Coalition of the Willing” for Ukraine. Although Moldova maintains neutral status, the country has already offered mine-clearance training to Ukrainian troops.
Diplomats in Brussels suggest Ukraine’s presence in Ankara will be symbolically strong even if Zelenskyy himself is not invited to sit as the leader of a member state. Inclusion in high-level panels and bilateral meetings is one option being considered.
Ukraine will be represented at the NATO summit in Turkey, Zelenskyy said, as reported by Telegrafi, adding that it is too early to specify who will go and in what capacity.
Turkey, the host, has played a particular role throughout the war — keeping channels open to both Moscow and Kyiv, supplying Ukraine with Bayraktar drones, and serving as venue for some of the few rounds of talks that have taken place since 2022.
The summit’s main decisions are expected to be the biggest test of Alliance unity since the start of the Russian invasion three years ago.
Source: Telegrafi