NATO is preparing a shortened summit communiqué in The Hague, and it seems that Ukraine will not be a main focus in it, according to media reports
On the eve of the second NATO leaders' summit held in The Hague this year (scheduled for June), there have been suspicions in the media that its final communiqué may be significantly shortened. Sources, including the widely cited "European Pravda" referencing Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, suggest that the final document might not mention Russia or Ukraine at all. This has sparked considerable interest and concern among experts, as in previous summits, the issues of Ukraine and its security status played a prominent role in the agenda. According to the sources, the summit organizers aim to create a document that can receive approval from the most influential participant — U.S. President Donald Trump. Given his anti-immigration stance, opposition to Euro-Atlantic integration, and his attitude toward NATO expansion and support for Ukraine, the administration is trying to avoid the conflict-discussion scenarios that arose late last year in Brussels. As a result, the communiqué expected in The Hague is likely to be much shorter — planned to be limited to three or four brief paragraphs, whereas in the past NATO publications included detailed statements. Comparing to previous summaries, for instance, the declaration in Washington 2024 consisted of 40 paragraphs, and the communiqué in Vilnius 2023, approved at the end of last year, was over 90 pages long. These covered a broad range of issues — from countering Russian aggression to strengthening defense capabilities, cooperation with the EU, and supporting partners. The earlier drafts also emphasized Ukraine’s future in NATO and its path toward full membership. However, there is a serious possibility now that the new document will not mention Ukraine or Russia at all. This has caused surprise and concern among diplomatic circles, as in previous summits, Ukraine occupied a central place in the agenda. Hot debates took place regarding Ukraine’s prospects for joining the Alliance, its ambitious plans for defense reforms, and the need for more active support for Kyiv in its confrontation with Moscow. Sources wishing to remain anonymous indicate that the reason for this shift is Trump’s position, which does not support Ukraine’s swift accession to NATO. According to one European diplomat, since Trump seeks to avoid new conflicts and is fundamentally skeptical of NATO expansion, it might be more convenient not to raise this issue at all during the summit. It is also noted that any attempts to formulate softened language regarding Ukraine could cause even greater damage than in 2024, when a conceptual communiqué was adopted that explicitly committed to supporting Kyiv "on its irreversible path toward full Euro-Atlantic integration, including NATO membership." Against this backdrop, discussions about NATO’s future directions and goals are particularly prominent. It is expected that the leaders at the Hague summit will agree on new parameters for military expenditure, which would be a significant achievement for the alliance’s future strategic planning. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg advocates increasing annual defense spending to 3.5% of member countries’ GDP and allocating an additional 1.5% for security and defense-related purposes. According to U.S. diplomats, these issues need to be agreed upon before the summit; otherwise, Trump might decide to withdraw from participation, which has already caused concern among allies. Thus, the upcoming summit in The Hague promises to be less intense and comprehensive than previous ones. References to Ukraine and active discussions about its NATO membership are likely to be absent, marking a new phase in diplomatic negotiations and the strategic balance within the alliance. This also highlights the influence of domestic U.S. political factors and their impact on NATO’s foreign policy. Attendees can expect either a gradual restructuring of discussions or a more restrained and complex diplomatic atmosphere ahead of decisive regional decisions.