NATO Leaders Gather for Final Summit Day Focused on Defense Spending and Ukraine

NATO leaders are scheduled to hold the summit's only plenary session on the final day of the gathering. The session is expected to address defense spending commitments and coordination of support for Ukraine more than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion.

The U.S. president is set to meet with the Ukrainian president and the Syrian president during bilateral sessions. A press conference is planned before departure from Ankara, Turkey.

Discussions are expected to focus on turning a 2025 commitment to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense into concrete military capabilities. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has urged member nations to present clear plans for meeting the target.

Ukrainian officials have warned that supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles are critically low. Officials said none of the ballistic missiles launched during a recent barrage could be intercepted due to dwindling stocks.

The U.S. president announced during a meeting with the Turkish president that sanctions on Turkey would be lifted. The president also signaled readiness to move forward with the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey. The president questioned whether European allies were doing enough to support the United States and suggested U.S. troops could be withdrawn from Europe.