The Dutch Minister of Defense, Rutte Bregman, has announced that the country hosting the NATO summit in The Hague this June is seeking a way to involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in one of the alliance’s key events
This decision has generated considerable interest and reflection regarding the future formats of meetings, as it was previously expected that the summit would traditionally serve as a platform for high-level leaders from all NATO member countries. At the same time, it appears that this time, organizers plan to limit the presence of senior guests at open plenary sessions. According to Bregman, efforts are currently underway to include Zelensky and other official representatives of Ukraine in the summit program. This does not mean an official speech in the hall during the general session, which is usually attended by leaders from all 32 NATO countries, but rather informal contacts or individual meetings that can highlight support for Ukraine in its fight for security and integration into the alliance. The minister added that, despite potential challenges, Ukraine will be considered as a desired guest in any format in the context of the Hague summit. Sources indicate that last year, during the Washington summit, Ukrainian President Zelensky already had a personal meeting with NATO leaders. He also participated in the general discussion alongside other representatives. However, this year, things might turn out differently — media reports suggest that organizers intend to reduce the duration of the summit and exclude potential open-format openings for the wider audience. This is linked to internal political issues and the probable desire to avoid diplomatic conflicts, primarily with Washington, amid discussions about a possible downsizing of command operations due to the scandal surrounding Donald Trump. Bregman mentioned during the WNL op Zondag television program that the possibility of an encounter with Zelensky in an unconventional format is quite plausible. He declined to specify whether it would be a separate session, a dedicated meeting, or an informal conversation, but noted that the format could vary. When asked about the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump in the most active part of the summit, Bregman replied that it is currently unknown whether he will be present at these events, emphasizing: “In the Netherlands, Zelensky is always a welcome guest in any format.” During this statement, Bregman also expressed support for Ukraine’s future NATO membership — he emphasized that the prospects for Ukraine’s integration into the military alliance are “irreversible.” Although the U.S. administration previously voiced possible reservations regarding Ukraine’s swift adaptation within NATO, Bregman assured there have been no significant changes on this issue. Responding to journalists’ inquiries, he pointed out that even under the Biden administration, no declarations have been made suggesting that this process might happen in the near future — everything is proceeding according to plan. Another point of interest is the potential preparation of a mini-declaration for the Hague summit, which, according to rumors, could be adopted without explicit mention of Ukraine. This raises questions about the level of attention NATO plans to give to Ukraine. Meanwhile, in the U.S., a vote was held recently to develop such a policy, denying any rumors of possible resistance to Ukraine’s invitation to participate in the organization’s annual events. Thus, despite the internal European and international political turbulences, the topic of support for Ukraine remains central to the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague. Although event format restrictions are planned, diplomatic sources emphasize that Kyiv continues to pursue active participation in the processes of future expansion and deepening cooperation with the alliance. This underscores Kyiv’s intention to maintain the global community’s focus on Ukraine’s security and sovereignty amid broader challenges and NATO’s strategic interests.