President Donald Trump, right, meets with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (Alex Brandon/AP)
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States would license Ukraine to produce Patriot air defense missiles, praising the country’s wartime leader at a summit where he reserved his toughest words for NATO allies.
Trump, speaking alongside President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the end of the two-day meeting in Turkey, said he had “a very good” relationship with the Ukrainian leader.
If a deal allowing Ukraine to manufacture its own anti-missile weapons is finalized, it would mark a major milestone for the country and could represent a breakthrough in countering Russian missile barrages.
“This way, you can’t complain that we’re not giving them enough,” Trump told Zelenskyy. “Let’s say, ‘Make them yourself.’ ”
Trump said he had not yet informed Raytheon, the missile’s manufacturer, of his plan. “But that’ll work out all right,” he added.
For Zelenskyy, the Patriot announcement capped a dramatic turnaround from the public acrimony that characterized his earlier encounters with Trump. The development also coincides with Ukraine’s push to move beyond dependence on Western arms deliveries by producing more advanced weapons.
Trump said he regarded Ukraine as a country “with great potential.”
“If this kind of brainpower can go toward rebuilding the country instead of fighting a war, I think that country’s going to do fantastically well,” he said.
In a separate bilateral meeting, Trump also had praise for Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. When asked if he planned to remove Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, Trump said: “Why wouldn’t I? He’s done a great job.”
During the two-day summit, Trump reserved his toughest words for NATO members.
On Wednesday, he opened the meeting with criticism of Spain, which refused to allow bases and airspace in the country to be used during the Iran conflict. Spain also has balked at Trump’s demand that allies move toward spending 5% of gross domestic product on defense. “Spain is a terrible partner in NATO. They don’t participate. They don’t pay. I don’t want anything to do with Spain,” Trump said, adding that he intended to cut off all trade with the country.
“Don’t even talk to them. They’re hopeless, bad people,” Trump said. Trump also restated his criticism of Denmark and his belief that its autonomous territory of Greenland should be under U.S. control.
On Tuesday, Trump threatened to pull American troops out of Europe if the issue isn’t resolved.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark said on Wednesday that Greenland was not for sale.
“We will defend the kingdom of Denmark,” Frederiksen said when asked how the country would respond to an attack. “We are ready to defend every inch of NATO, including our own territory.”
The NATO summit concluded with a statement reaffirming that all allies remain committed to Article 5, the alliance’s policy that an attack on one member is an attack on all.
Allies agreed to numerous deals during the summit, including $50 billion in new weapons contracts. NATO members also will invest billions in new fuel storage and distribution pipelines intended to provide sufficient energy supplies along the eastern flank in the event of a crisis.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, speaking at the conclusion of the summit, downplayed divisions among member states. He also heaped praise on Trump while saying disagreements were inevitable.
“Sometimes people will argue at the top of their lungs, their points of view, and others will answer. I’m never worried about that,” Rutte said.
Meanwhile, Trump offered mixed messages. While at one point he said he was “very upset with NATO,” he later concluded that the event amounted to a “great meeting.”
Speaking to reporters at a closing news conference, Trump said that behind closed doors with his fellow leaders, allies were getting along well. “I just want to say there was tremendous love in that room,” Trump said. He said his fellow heads of state have “a lot of good in their heart.”
“Not evil. Good. And they’re doing good for their country,” he said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sitting alongside Trump, concurred.
“Very positive. A lot of unity,” Rubio said.
