Moving onto questions, the first is about the Iran war. Trump said: “Iran war has been a tremendous military success. They are not going to have a nuclear weapon.”

He adds the oil prices are lower and reiterates Iran’s ships and military has been decimated.

Trump begins on a positive note praising Turkey’s president Erdogan as a “great man” and NATO secretary general Mark Rutte for the work they have done.

He also mentions the talks that have taken place in Ankara and believes “the world is doing well”.

Trump adds Iran’s military was “essentially demolished” in two weeks and says US has the strongest military in the world.

Trump is, finally, here.

I will bring you all the lines here, or you can watch below.

Greenland is ⁠not for sale, ⁠the island’s head ⁠of ​government Jens-Frederik Nielsen said after US president Donald ​Trump ‌renewed ‌his demand to control ‌the Arctic territory at a Nato summit in Ankara, Reuters reported.

“Repeated calls for the ​takeover or control of our country do ⁠not change ​this,” Nielsen ​wrote ​in a ​post ‌on Facebook.

Meanwhile, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said his expectations of the summit were more than fulfilled, AP reported.

He said he’s “returning to Germany with the feeling that we made a big contribution to Nato staying together, to it becoming stronger, to it becoming more European.”

Merz said there was “a new feeling of European responsibility in the room.”

He was also quoted by Reuters as saying that the era of “free-riding of the Europeans in Nato is over,” and praising Mark Rutte for his leadership in Nato.

Meanwhile, UK’s outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer said that Nato had emerged ⁠from its ⁠annual summit “stronger ​and more united”, citing US president Donald Trump’s ⁠closing remarks which he said had praised the ⁠spirit and unity of the meeting.

“President ​Trump summed ‌up and ‌said that he was very ‌pleased to welcome the spirit of the meeting and the unity of the meeting, and therefore, in terms of what’s ‌the outcome here, and answering that question ‘is Nato stronger ​and more united coming out of this summit?’ then the answer is yes to ⁠that,” Starmer told reporters in commnents reported by Reuters.

Meanwhile, Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni said that, despite her recent fallout in relations with Trump, she did not regret her efforts to strike a close partnership with the US president.

“No, I absolutely ⁠don’t regret anything I have done,” Meloni told reporters in Ankara, Reuters reported.

“I made that political investment because I believe in the unity of the West. It’s not a strategy I adopted with Trump’s arrival, but one I have ⁠pursued with all my counterparts,” she said.

Meloni acknowledged that “things are going the ​way we have seen” ​between her and Trump, but ​stressed that they still shared common ground on issues including ​immigration and opposition ‌to what she described ​as “woke culture“.

Meanwhile, other leaders have also been speaking to the media.

Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sánchez insisted that his country’s ties with the United States were “very positive” despite president Donald Trump’s latest threat to cut off trade links (10:13).

“Relations between the United States and Spain are very positive relations in social, cultural, economic and also political terms,” Sanchez told reporters in comments reported by AFP.

He also said the cooperation between the US and Spanish armed forces remained “optimal and positive.”

Catching up with Rutte’s presser, the Nato secretary general insisted the summit “has shown this alliance is stronger than ever,” with “a tremendously successful” summit and “a great sense of unity.”

“Allies warmly welcomed president Trump’s leadership that is transforming this alliance and making it stronger,” he said with “a huge sense of unity” among the 32 leaders.

(Sceptical side-eye to camera.)

He said Nato was “rebalancing” the alliance “for the better,” with Trump resolving the “big irritant” over spending with Europeans and Canada stepping up to the task.

He also said the allies “reaffirmed Nato’s unwavering support for Ukraine” and its determination to “continue to ensure Ukraine gets what it needs,” and their commitment to Article 5.

That’s essentially all what the leaders said in their communique anyway (14:46).

Let’s see how much of that translates into actual actions, but on the face of it – although there is an obvious problem with looking at that with Trump – this was a very positive briefing for Ukraine and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The US president repeatedly praised Zelenskyy – even laughing at one point at how fair the pair has come since that infamous Oval Office meeting last year (14:58) – and talked about his hopes of developing postwar Ukraine and tapping into its “tremendous potential.”

Sure, there were still some troubling bits when he appeared to disregard the pretty fundamental difference between an aggressor and a victim with his “kids fighting in a park” metaphor (15:03), and when he talked about his personal relationship with Putin.

But what will matter for Ukraine more is his apparent backing for Kyiv’s strikes inside Russia (15:06), a very strong suggestion that Ukraine will get a licensing deal to produce “defensive” Patriot missiles (15:09; although big questions remain on timings here), and a clear and repeated pledge to push for a peace deal to “save lives” (15:13) and offer strong security guarantees to hold up any future deal (15:19).

There was also a hint of genuine admiration for Ukraine’s incredible process on drone production, with Trump suggesting that the US “would buy their drones” (15:25) – something that would have been unthinkable even a year ago.

Separately, Rutte’s press conference is also under way, and you can watch it below.

I will bring you the key lines after Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy.

Asked about Ukraine’s experience with drones, Trump acknowledges their expertise in this area and says the US would be prepared to buy Ukrainian drones.

“We would buy their drones. We make drones, we make geat drones, but they have an ability to make a lot of them, which is amazing that in a war situation they make them in basements, wherever the hell you have a little shelter or even if you don’t have a shelter.”

He says Ukraine is particularly well positioned on arms production, as they have the talent required.

“That’s what I say with the Patriots. They would be able to do it; most countries would not be able to do it.”

Trump gets asked if he is prepared to go to Ukraine.

He says yes, but “I would rather do it when the war is over.”

He jokes that the US Secret Service “would not be thrilled” by that.

But repeats that he is prepared to go to Ukraine at the right time, as he praises Kyiv as a “beautiful city.”

Trump gets asked if he is prepared to impose further sanctions on Russia.

He says there is “a lot of pressure on president Putin,” and adds: “I don’t think he likes what’s going on.”

Would the US be prepared to offer security guarantees to Ukraine?

“We want to do it, we want to do it to save lives. … I am trying to save lives.”

He also repeats his earlier lines about Ukraine and Russia both having lots of potential.

Trump gets asked about whether he would agree to Europe producing Patriot missiles domestically, on an US licence.

He says “we are going to talk about that,” but says it is a “defensive” weapon and he likes that.

He eventually strongly hints that the US would be prepared agree to licensing deals on Patriots.

“I just a little birdie told me this, about the fact that we’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” he says.

Trump gets asked about Ukraine’s strikes deep in Russia.

He diverts the question to US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who says it has changed the dynamic of the war.

Trump then comes back to say:

“It’s an escalation, but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end.”

He then says he thinks both sides want to strike a deal, as he adds that Zelenskyy would surely “like to get back to rebuilding his country as opposed to all this death and destruction.”

The Ukrainian president says quietly: “Of course.”

Trump continues saying that Ukraine has “tremendous potential,” and the US has “a stake” in its success with the minerals deal.

Trump gets asked about a “pragmatic” pathway to ending the Russian aggression on Ukraine.

He says “they are going to make a deal.”

“This deal has been in the works for a long time. It’s got the pluses, the minuses. They know what it is. He knows what it is better than anybody.”

He then bizarrely compares it to two kids fighting in a park, saying “sometimes you have to let them fight.”

But he also praises Zelenskyy for "doing an amazing job” and being “very effective.”

He then adds:

“And Russia, you know, it’s a big, it’s a big country, but it’s a big force.”

Trump says he thinks both presidents want to end the war and “get it done.”

And that should be a good combination.

Trump gets asked about Iran, and he extensively repeats his earlier criticism.

He also says the US will “hit them hard again tonight,” adding: “I give them a little warning.”

Zelenskyy talks about defence being the priority, and peace negotiations on how to end the war.

He also says they begin to work on a drone deal with the US. “It’s a very good beginning,” he says.

Trump then comes in again to say that ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine “is not the easiest thing,” as both Putin and Zelenskyy are “difficult characters.”

“But I think we’ve made a lot of progress in the last couple of weeks, and we’ll see how it all goes,” he says.

Trump is now speaking at a side meeting with Ukraine’s Zelenskyy.

He says this was “a good meeting,” and says that he developed a good relationship with the Ukrainian leader.

“It’s hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now, we have developed, I think, a very good relationship,” he says.

“And this is not the end,” Zelenskyy adds.

“No, this is not, this is going to be the beginning maybe,” Trump says.

Trump then goes on a bit of a tangent about Ukrainians in Poland who want to return to their country after the war, while somehow praising the Polish president, Karol Nawrocki.

In the meantime, Nato has just published its “communique” – a final statement issued by the leaders” – on today’s talks.

The leaders said they wanted to “reaffirm our ironclad commitment to our collective defence under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty and to the transatlantic bond.”

An attack on one is an attack on all.

The document also pointedly identifies Russia as “the long-term threat” to “Euro-Atlantic security and stability.”

It notes that European allies and Canada are spennding more and more, while noting – as Rutte did this morning – that more is needed on “strengthening our industrial base and resilience.”

The statement also says the leaders want to build “a stronger Europe in a stronger Nato, a modernised alliance,” with its deterrence and defence resting on “an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional, and missile defence capabilities, complemented by space and cyber assets.”

There is also a supportive paragraph on Ukraine, saying it “contributes to transatlantic security,” and pledging “unwavering support” to Kyiv “in defending its freedom, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.”

The leaders also agreed on a brief block on Iran, saying it “must never have a nuclear weapon,” and calling on Tehran “to fully respect freedom of navigation in the strait of Hormuz.”

Curiously, and in sharp contrast to last year’s text, there is no specific reference to leaders’ meeting next year, which is meant to be in Albania. Instead, there is a much more generic comment that the leaders “look forward to our next meeting,” whenever and wherever it takes place.

This comes amid media speculations that the 2027 summit could get postponed to avoid another drama with Trump, as reported by Bloomberg earlier today (£).

Defence and security editor
in Ankara

Nato sources are briefing that Trump “did not lash out” in this morning’s closed doors meeting of alliance leaders – in contrast to his public outburst when he met secretary general Mark Rutte this morning (10:31).

The question is whether Rutte, or somebody, told Trump to calm down between his first press point and the leaders meeting. And whether that second more harmonious mood will hold.

Reporters are now waiting in a packed lecture hall for Rutte to brief reporters at the nation’s library in the presidential compound at Ankara at around 15:45 local time (1:45pm UK).

He will be followed by Trump fairly shortly afterwards.

The main event is of course Trump, who after taking a series of questions from US media, tends to take more from the floor in an occasionally chaotic session that could last as long as an hour, depending on the leader’s mood.

We are getting first reports from behind the closed doors in Ankara, with Reuters reporting, via sources, that Trump told allies he wanted to keep the US in the alliance and was prepared to continue selling weapons “no matter how they were put to use.”

He also reportedly did not repeat his criticism of Spain (10:13) or another Nato allies, nor did not return to the issue of Greenland (10:15, 10:20).

Let’s see if that holds when he addresses the media later today.

in Brussels

And speaking of Ukraine’s EU ambitions (13:39), the European parliament has rebuked Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the renaming of a Ukrainian military unit after one that killed tens of thousands of Poles during the second world war.

Ukraine and Poland have been at odds over Zelenskyy’s decision to rename a military unit, “the heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army”. The UPA was involved in the massacre of up to 100,000 Polish citizens between 1943 and 1945 in Eastern Galicia and Volhynia (Wołyn), regions that have changed hands numerous times.

Voting in a resolution on Ukraine MEPs condemned “the recent unnecessary and unprovoked escalation” by Zelenskyy and the “disregard for Polish sensitivities and grief” especially in the light of Poland’s support for Ukraine. The UPA are regarded as heroes by many in Ukraine for their role in fighting the Red Army and Nazi Germany.

The amendment was drafted by the European People’s Party, the centre-right European parliament group of Polish prime minister Donald Tusk.

It was part of a broader report by German EPP member Michael Gahler, which praised Ukraine’s“extraordinary efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions” during wartime and called for a “constructive discussion” on its European integration.

The report, adopted by 460 votes in favour, 136 against, and 59 abstentions, does not bind the parliament, but marks a rare public rebuke against Ukraine’s leader.

In a statement after the vote Gahler said: “Since Ukraine’s European path started in 2014, the country has changed profoundly for the better. Russia’s war of aggression has even accelerated this process.”

“A lot has still to be done,” he added citing reforms on democratic standards, the rule of law and tackling corruption.

As we wait for the leaders to reappear, let me bring you an update on wildfires that have raged across southern Europe since last week, and forced thousands to leave their homes in Greece, France, Portugal and Spain.

As temperatures are expect to hit up to 40C this week again, there are growing concerns that some of them could get restarted.

The European Commission has ​pre-positioned a record 777 firefighters from 14 European countries in high-risk areas, Reuters reported.

Have you been affected? Let us know.

On the sidelines of today’s summit, Ukraine’s Zelenskyy held meetings with a number of allies, including European Council president António Costa, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, South Korean president Lee Jae Myung, and even a bipartisan delegation from the US Congress.

After talking to Costa, Zelenskyy said they discussed “a potential timeline for the next steps” in Ukraine’s bid to join the European Union, saying “it is critical to advance in this direction as quickly as possible.”

With Meloni, he talked about “the prospects for our joint work in Europe on anti-ballistic capabilities to provide greater protection for everyone.”

Last night, Zelenskyy also signed a drone deal with Denmark – Ukraine’s ninth - at a meeting with the country’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen.

Some allies are trying to highlight that they are already spending 5% GDP on defence – as per the target agreed at The Hague summit last year – with special “5% club” lapel pins.

Here is Lithuania’s president Gitanas Nausėda proudly showing off his pin to Nato’s secretary general, Mark Rutte.

Estonia’s foreign minister Margus Tsakhna and his Lithuanian counterpart Kęstutis Budrys also boasted about their pins on social media.

Lithuania is forecast to spend 5.33% in 2026, with Estonia after closely behind at 5.10%. Latvia is third at 4.92%, followed by Poland in the fourth place at 4.68%.

A cursory glance at the map of Europe will tell you why these countries on the eastern flank of the alliance are leading in the spending tables.

Spain, which faced so much criticism from Trump this morning, is at 2%, according to official Nato figures.

The commission also openly rejected Trump’s demand that Greenland should become a US territory (10:20).

Gill said:

“Greenland is an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. Decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenlanders and Danes to decide.

Territorial integrity, national sovereignty and inviolability of borders are fundamental principles of international law. They are essential not only for the European Union but for nations around the world.

We will not stop defending them, and the EU stands in full solidarity with Denmark and the people of Greenland.”

Meanwhile, the European Commission has responded to Trump’s comments on Spain from this morning.

Speaking at the midday press briefing, deputy chief spokesperson Olof Gill said:

“The Commission has been very clear and consistent on this issue, and our approach will not change.

As we have said previously, trade between the European Union and the United States is deeply integrated and mutually beneficial. Therefore, it is in our mutual interest to safeguard this relationship.

Indeed, this is more important than ever in a time of global disruption. I remind you that we signed a joint statement with the US last year.

We expect the US to honour its commitments under that joint statement as we have honoured ours.

And finally, I repeat, the Commission will always ensure that the interests of the European Union and all our member States are fully protected. We will continue to advocate for stable, predictable and mutually beneficial transatlantic trade for the benefit of all.”

in Madrid

Madrid is downplaying Trump’s renewed threat to cut all trade with Spain.

Spanish government sources said they were greeting the US president’s latest broadside calmly, adding:

“Our country maintains an excellent social, cultural, and economic relationship with the US, and we have no intention of changing that.”

They also suggested people would do well to reflect on three things:

“One, that the US has a trade surplus with Spain (meaning it benefits more from this relationship than we do). Two, that the EU is a trading union in which no member state can be singled out (as the commission itself has emphasised on several occasions). And three, that economic ties are forged by private companies, not governments. The bilateral relationship between the US and Spain is beneficial for both countries, both in the commercial and defence spheres.”

And let’s remember that we’ve been here before. In March, Trump threatened to cut all trade with Spain after it refused the US permission to use jointly operated bases in southern Spain to continue its attacks in Iran.

Meanwhile, the leaders are now arriving for the official welcome ceremony, getting a handshake from Rutte and Erdoğan

If you want to play the game of guessing who is who – Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson and Greece’s Kyriakos Mitsotakis were the last two just now – you can watch it live here:

Trump’s comments on Spain – including his somewhat theatrical demand to cut all trade with Madrid – are particularly interesting.

But he has done it so many times before, but not much actually happened.

He said it first in March, when Spain pointedly refused to back his Iran war, prompting an angry response from the European Commission, which pointed out that you can’t really cut off trade with one specific EU country (Europe Live, 4 March).

Arriving in Ankara, European leaders were probably resigned to the fact that Donald Trump would say something difficult during this summit, but he is clearly even trying to hold back this morning.

He has powerfully reiterated his frustration with Nato, pointedly criticising an array of countries – with Spain, the UK and Italy getting the most stick – before repeating his demand to take control of Greenland and calling it “a big problem.”

Ouch.

This will not make the subsequent leaders’ meeting any easier.

On Iran, Trump says the memorandum of understanding with Iran is “over,” because “I do not want to deal with them any more, they are scum.”

“They are sick people, they are vicious, violent people.”\

He then adds:

“As far as I am concerned, it’s just a waste of time dealing with them. They are liars. … There is something wrong with them. They are cuckoo. As far as I am concerned, it is over.”

Rutte says he understands Trump’s frustrations, but insists these are “isolated” cases, with many European countries helping out. He very softly pushes back on some specific countries that Trump named earlier, including Germany and France.

Trump comes back with pointed criticism of the UK which “would not let us use the island for two weeks,” and Italy being “very bad.”

But Rutte says that Trump “even got Spain to pay 2%.”

On Greenland, Rutte says the pair agreed at Davos to increase US military presence there, and he pledges to “make sure that deal is step by step being implemented.”

But this only triggers Trump to go again and say Greenland is “very important for the US, but it’s not important for Denmark” (that’s not true).

He then goes on a rant about the second world war and Nazis in Denmark, before coming back to say he is “very unhappy with Nato.”

Rutte comes back with over-the-top praise for Trump, which makes the US president go “that’s why I like him.”

Trump also says “Greenland is a big problem for us,” as he laments that the US is spending so much money “to protect these countries from Russia,” but doesn’t get anything in return.

He says Nato countries “have not treated us right,” and the US has “been treated unfairly; we pay disproportionately.”

He says only some smaller countries wanted to help with Iran, because “they are the most vulnerable” on Russia, and understand what is at stake.

“I am very upset with Nato that we pay far, far too much,” he says.

Trump repeats that he is “not happy with Nato because of what they did with Greenland” and they refusal to help with Iran.

He says he spoke to several countries who didn’t help.

But he particularly lashes out against Spain, saying he “does not want to do anything” with Spain, as he instructs his officials to “cut all trade with Spain.”

“Spain is a terrible partner in Nato. They don’t participate, they don’t pay, I don’t want anything to do with Spain. Cut off all trade with Spain, including visits. We don’t want anything. Watch them come running back, oh, they will come running back.”

As the official programme is about to start in Ankara, you can follow the summit with us here:

But I will also obviously bring you all the latest here, so don’t feel you have to watch it. I will make sure you don’t miss a thing.

Arriving early for the summit, Nato’s Rutte said the meeting was “about implementation, about getting it done” after last year’s push to increase defence spending.

He said that European allies and Canada were “stepping up” with more money, more jobs, and more capacity, but there is still more to be done.

“If you look at it from the United States perspective, you will have European allies which are much more capable, with the US, to work together in Nato to keep one billion people safe,” he said, repeatedly praising Trump for pushing Europe to do more.

Rutte also said the meeting was about reiterating the alliance’s support for Ukraine, expecting the leaders to agree on “a strong commitment to keep supporting Ukraine.”

He said he expected the leaders to “acknowledge collectively that Russia is the long-term threat” to Nato.

Let’s see how it all unfolds with grumpy Trump in the audience though. But Rutte insisted the US president was still “completely committed” to the alliance, despite his comments last night suggesting otherwise.

Nato leaders are meeting in Ankara, Turkey today for what was meant to be a “Trump-proof” summit: short and sweet, with little space for any drama or outbursts from the notoriously unpredictable US president.

Yeah, good luck with that.

Even before the summit proper began, Trump lashed out against several Nato allies saying he was “very disappointed” that “they were not there” for the US on Iran, threatened to pull out US troops from Europe, and repeated his claim that Greenland should be controlled by the US, not Denmark.

That’s a good start.

Denmark’s Mette Frederiksen was forced to say this morning that her country was “ready to defend” Greenland if needed, reiterating the territory was “not for sale.”

Expect more of the same today, as Trump is due to show up shortly, accompanied by secretary general Mark Rutte, who has the impossible job of keeping him on side.

The formal welcome ceremony gets under way shortly at 10:45am Turkish time (that’s 8:45am UK time, and 9:45am CEST), where we will get all sorts of official photos.

The proper session starts at 11.15 (9:15am UK), and will last only for a few hours. We are then going to hear from leaders about how well (or not) it went.

I will bring you all the latest here.

It’s Wednesday, 8 July 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.