Threat from Washington: Will Zelensky Receive an Invitation to the NATO Summit in The Hague?
In light of recent reports and assumptions, the debate among NATO allies over the possible attendance of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the upcoming NATO-organized summit in The Hague, scheduled for June 24-25, has intensified again. This issue, which a few weeks ago seemed semi-secret, has now gained prominent attention in diplomatic circles. According to information received from independent sources at NOS, citing unnamed NATO diplomats, the United States is opposing the invitation of Zelensky to the event. Allegedly, the American administration is among the most critical of the idea to officially invite the President of Ukraine, as this step could create additional tensions in the relationship between Kyiv and Washington, which have already been fragile since the start of the war. Sources indicate that the Trump administration does not approve such a move partly due to personal and political disagreements with Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as ongoing strain in bilateral relations rooted in historical issues and now at a peak. At the same time, sources report that the decision regarding Ukrainian leadership’s participation in the summit has not been finalized and could still change. However, it is emphasized that the rejection of Zelensky’s invitation could have diplomatic repercussions for the Netherlands, which will host the event — both within diplomatic etiquette and strategically. Such a decision might be viewed as a serious reputational mistake. Official figures stress that there are still six weeks before the summit begins, and the situation remains open, leaving multiple possible developments. According to diplomatic sources, active consultations and discussions are ongoing among European capitals regarding the appropriateness of any actions to avoid provoking conflict with Donald Trump and his team ahead of this important NATO meeting. Specifically, EU countries are urging Brussels not to take radical steps that could provoke a conflict or hinder cooperation within the alliance. One of the key issues on the agenda remains the level of defense spending. Allies are already forming plans for a substantial increase in military funding, including meeting Washington’s requirement to allocate at least 5% of GDP to the defense sector. Given this dynamic, it is clear that cooperation on defense policy and unity among NATO countries remain priorities in achieving shared goals amid new challenges. Overall, the situation around the potential invitation of the Ukrainian leader to the NATO summit in The Hague continues to be tense and depends on political processes, diplomatic agreements, and internal intrigues of major players. However, it is quite evident that events surrounding this issue could not only influence intra-European diplomacy but also lead to significant changes in regional power balances and alliance relations in the coming months.