NATO Summit Meeting begins in Türkiye with Ukraine on the radar and amid internal tensions within the bloc

Trump "will later address" the issue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the official said. On Monday (6), Zelensky complained about the lack of American Patriot defense systems promised by the West after strong Russian attacks on Kiev. ? Patriot is a mobile surface-to-air missile system developed and manufactured by American military equipment giant Raytheon Technologies. It is considered one of the most advanced air defense systems in the US arsenal and has been in operation since the 1980s, with several upgrades over the years. Russia bombarded the capital with missiles and drones, killing 22 people, according to local authorities. Data from the Ukrainian Air Force showed that the country failed to shoot down any of the 23 ballistic missiles fired by Moscow. "It is simply absurd that in the modern world production has not yet been scaled up to the level actually necessary to protect people from ballistic terror," he said in his evening video address. Missile being fired from Patriot air defense system. Reproduction/Raytheon Technologies Ukraine is experiencing a shortage of North American interceptors just days after the deadliest attack this year. The country's defense system, the Patriot, was sent to the country by the USA in 2025. It is one of the most advanced anti-missile systems in the world. It is considered a powerful "shield" from the West, and its use in Ukraine has already been called "a provocation" by the Russian government. Billions of dollars and internal tensions NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte promised on Monday (6) contracts worth "tens of billions of dollars" to strengthen the alliance's defense capabilities. The promise of billion-dollar investments hides the discomfort that Trump causes other alliance leaders. Last Friday (3), the American president said it was "ridiculous" that his country continued its current relationship with NATO, which he called "unilateral." "It's ridiculous for the US to continue on this unilateral path when the relationship is not reciprocal. They weren't there for us!!!", said Trump on his social network Truth Social in reference to the country's contribution to NATO. Trump has been pressuring partners to increase their defense spending, and has not backed down on his plans to annex Greenland, which belongs to Denmark, another NATO member. Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni speak with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (back to back) during a lunch of G7 and Middle East leaders Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP Trump has made constant attacks on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since the Republican said she had "begged" for a photo of the two during the last G7 summit in France in June. Meloni denied his colleague's statements, saying they were "completely invented". On Monday, Trump posted a digitally manipulated photo in which Meloni appears looking at him as if adoring him, with the caption: "Restraining order required." The prime minister did not comment on the episode. Trump is also expected to meet with Syria's interim president, Ahmed al Sharaa, over the two-day summit in Ankara.