Ukraine will attend the NATO summit in Ankara on 7–8 July as a guest rather than a member, despite record public support for joining the alliance. The meeting is expected to focus on the future of US commitment to NATO, while Kyiv continues to push for full membership and stronger security guarantees amid the ongoing war with Russia.
Support for NATO membership in Ukraine has risen to 71.3%, according to a February Razumkov Centre survey, even as confidence in the United States has declined. President Volodymyr Zelensky has argued that NATO without the US cannot effectively deter Russia or guarantee the security of its members. Ukrainian officials also insist that full NATO membership remains the only acceptable long-term security guarantee, rejecting alternative arrangements.
The summit comes as concerns grow over Washington’s military posture in Europe. Recent US decisions to reduce troop deployments in Germany and Lithuania and cancel a planned brigade deployment to Poland have fueled debate over America’s long-term role in European security. Ukrainian officials and analysts argue that Europe must strengthen its own defense architecture, with Ukraine playing a central role.
Kyiv also says it contributes valuable battlefield experience to the alliance. Ukrainian military specialists participate in NATO exercises by replicating Russian tactics and sharing operational lessons from the war. At the same time, Ukrainian leaders warn that US attention has shifted toward the Middle East, reducing the availability of Patriot missile interceptors needed to defend Ukrainian cities.
Ukraine’s NATO ambitions remain blocked by political divisions within the alliance. US President Donald Trump has described Ukrainian membership as impractical, while Germany maintains that accession is not possible while the war continues. Russia continues to demand guarantees that Ukraine will never join NATO.
The Ankara summit is expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine but is unlikely to produce a breakthrough on membership. Instead, discussions are expected to focus on alternative security arrangements and the future of US engagement in Europe’s defense, leaving Kyiv without the commitment it has sought since 2022.
