Trump in Ankara: Tight Schedule, Meeting with Zelenskyy, and the Shadow of a NATO Exit

On July 8, Ankara becomes the epicenter of diplomatic tension. US President Donald Trump will spend a full day at the NATO summit, with his schedule packed minute by minute. Later that evening, the US leader plans to return to Washington, but before departing, he must attend a series of critical meetings at the Beştepe Presidential Complex.

Key Negotiations: Ukraine and Syria

The day's main focus is a bilateral meeting between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the schedule released by Roll Call, the talks are set for 14:30 Kyiv time (07:30 Washington time). This event will be one of the key agenda items for both leaders.

Immediately following the conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Trump will meet with the President of the Syrian Arab Republic, Ahmed al-Sharaa. The sequence of these meetings highlights the complexity of the geopolitical situation in which the US is attempting to balance interests in the Middle East and Europe.

Trump's Skepticism and the Future of the Alliance

The atmosphere at the summit is expected to be tense. According to CNN, the US President arrived at the leaders' meeting in a bad mood. Recently, Trump has increasingly expressed skepticism regarding Washington's alliance commitments. He has never explicitly ruled out the possibility of the US withdrawing from NATO, creating uncertainty for European partners.

However, ahead of the summit, allies have taken steps to bolster defense. The UK, the Netherlands, Finland, and Poland announced the creation of a Multilateral Defense Mechanism. This tool, designed to support Ukraine, is expected to be operational by 2027 and will partially offset potential fluctuations in US support.

The Day's Finale in Ankara

After concluding the series of negotiations and a press conference, Trump will leave Ankara. Departure is scheduled from the Etimesgut military airfield, from where the President will head back to Washington. The outcome of this short but eventful day could significantly impact NATO's strategy in the coming years.