Dutch Defense Minister Confirms Zelensky’s Participation in NATO Summit in The Hague: Latest Details and Political Intrigue
The Hague, June 24, 2025 — On the eve of the scheduled events within the NATO summit to be held this year in the Dutch capital, the world's leading political and diplomatic circles are actively discussing the possibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's participation in this significant event. Official sources from Amsterdam and Brussels have confirmed that the issue of his involvement remains under special oversight and is on the agenda of high-level diplomatic negotiations. Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans unequivocally confirmed during a television interview on WNL op Zondag on Sunday that Ukrainian President Zelensky is to be a full participant in the NATO summit in The Hague. According to him, the organizers are already working to ensure that the Ukrainian leader has a "worthy place" at the event, emphasizing the importance of supporting Kyiv in the context of fostering a broad and transparent discussion for Alliance members. However, despite the official confirmation, details regarding the format of the meetings remain uncertain. In particular, the fate of a possible meeting between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, who also expressed his intention to participate in the key event in The Hague, remains unclear. The Defense Minister did not confirm or deny this possibility, noting, "Will we meet with Trump? It's still unknown. This matter is currently under discussion." The background to these events hints at diplomatic tension, as earlier reports indicated that the US side is somewhat skeptical about Kyiv's invitation and Ukraine's active participation in the summit. According to analysts, several EU countries have urged Brussels leadership to avoid conflicts with Donald Trump ahead of the event to prevent potential disruption of the planned activities. Meanwhile, Dutch Foreign Minister Kaspar Veldkamp warns that the final decision regarding Ukraine’s delegation participation will be made by NATO Secretary General Marco Rutte. At the same time, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that Washington does not oppose Zelensky’s invitation and sees the importance of his presence in The Hague, emphasizing support for Ukraine’s desire to be present at major international platforms. Thus, the situation around Ukraine’s participation in the NATO summit remains tense and complex; however, official statements indicate that organizers aim to ensure proper representation and a level of integration of the Ukrainian delegation into Alliance processes. At the same time, the political kaleidoscope and diplomatic game around personal meetings and participation formats remain open and filled with intrigue, which are expected to unfold in the coming days. It is anticipated that final decisions regarding the format and level of Zelensky’s participation, as well as potential bilateral meetings with world leaders, will be announced on the eve of the event or during its conduct, taking into account the political situation both within NATO and in the international context.