NATO summit aimed at boosting European arms spending in Ankara

As war rages on in Ukraine, several members of the NATO alliance gathered in the Turkish capital of Ankara for a two-day summit aimed at boosting Europe's role in the military partnership.

The Europeans say they are ready for a "big reveal" on a new arms deal to prove the continent's military capabilities to US President Donald Trump -- a frequent critic of Europe's contribution to the Trans-Atlantic partnership.

This as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to acquire a license to manufacture Patriot missiles, following an intense attack by Russia that killed at least 18 people.

NATO leaders arrive at the Turkish capital of Ankara to hold talks on the future of the alliance, with one of the main topics being Europe strengthening its role in the partnership.

This after Washington under the Trump administration routinely pressed its European allies to ramp up their military budgets, with the latter agreeing last year to invest 5% of their GDP on defence.

The first event that's going to happen is a thing called the "big reveal."

Leaders are going to stand up and advertise new contracts that they're going to sign.

They're worth tens of billions of dollars, according to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who will be hosting this meeting here in Ankara.

The one question is, will Trump take the win?

They've got a three-hour working session.

It's going to be a top issue, top debate over those three hours.

Will he take the win or will he criticise them again, as he's done so many times in the past.

Earlier, Trump suggested he would "bear gifts" for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during his visit, hinting at the possible resumption of sales of F-35 fighter jets to Ankara.

Washington earlier barring Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet programme owing to Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defence systems.

Speaking on the "Fox & Friends" morning show, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also urged the US not to sell the aircraft to Turkey, saying Erdogan "calls openly for the annihilation of Israel."

Meanwhile in Ukraine, a wave of Russian missiles and drones killed at least 18 people and wounded another 60 in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Monday.

Local authorities note all Russian ballistic missiles struck their targets, underscoring the country's need for more interceptor missiles.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stresses his nation will be able to protect both itself and neighbouring nations if granted a license to manufacture missiles for Patriot air defence systems.

This as Ukraine's military says its Special Operations Forces successfully struck the Omsk oil refinery in Russia's Western Siberia region, marking the furthest oil refinery target ever to be hit by Kyiv.