NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Thursday that allies will unveil tens of billions of dollars in new defense-related contracts at the Alliance’s upcoming summit in Ankara, where leaders are also expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine. Speaking at the Atlantic Council, the NATO chief outlined the July 7–8 summit in Turkey as a test of whether allies can turn higher defense spending into real military production, while keeping long-term backing for Kyiv on the agenda.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Tens of billions” of dollars in new defense-related contracts will be announced at the summit, Rutte stated. The Ankara meeting is expected to highlight Europe’s push to expand its defense industrial base, increase ammunition and weapons production, and reduce long-standing capability gaps across the Alliance. Ukraine support on the agenda NATO will also pledge support for Ukraine at the summit, which President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend, according to Rutte. The remarks come as Kyiv presses allies for more air defense systems, interceptors and long-range capabilities following repeated Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, energy infrastructure and civilian sites. Rutte has repeatedly argued that Ukraine’s security is inseparable from Europe’s security, warning that a Russian victory would pose a direct threat to the Alliance’s eastern flank. Ankara summit to focus on delivery NATO officials have framed the Ankara summit as a key moment for turning higher defense spending into real industrial output.