Media: Zelensky may be invited to an alternative forum instead of the NATO summit in The Hague
Diplomatic circles are still uncertain about the role of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for June in The Hague. Although there has been no official confirmation that the Ukrainian leader will attend the main event, there is a possibility that he may still participate in parallel activities, in particular, a defense industry forum organized by NATO. Sources, including the publication "European Pravda" citing American media and The New York Times, confirm that preparations for the summit are ongoing, and it is expected to be significantly scaled down compared to previous years. According to reports, this reduction aims to avoid potential tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who currently adopts a critical stance towards Ukraine and its prospects of joining the Alliance. The strategy to shorten the summit format is driven by a desire to prevent possible conflicts between leaders. At the same time, Ukraine's role in this major event remains uncertain. It is expected that the main NATO session in The Hague may not include Ukrainian representatives at the level seen in previous years. Sources indicate that on the first day of the summit, there will be the traditional informal dinner for leaders, followed the next day by a brief meeting, during which NATO’s new goals and budgets are likely to be ratified. At the same time, NATO is organizing a separate forum dedicated to the defense industry, which could be significant for President Zelensky. It is known that after the last summits under President Joe Biden’s administration, Zelensky was an active participant in the two most recent NATO summits, demonstrating Ukraine’s political importance for European and Transatlantic security. However, the media notes that the situation has now changed: Trump openly expresses negative attitudes towards Ukraine’s membership and even engages in verbal conflicts with Ukrainian officials. It is not yet certain whether Zelensky will attend The Hague directly during the main summit. The new U.S. NATO ambassador, Matthew Wintaker, expressed his opinion during a conference in Tallinn, stating that he expects the Ukrainian president to appear in The Hague, although discussions are still ongoing regarding the format of his participation and his status. Officials suggest that the planned events do not include a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting—a format in which allies traditionally meet with the Ukrainian delegation on equal terms. Another development is that under Trump’s influence, NATO is preparing a separate memorandum-declaration regarding the Hague summit, likely without mentioning Ukraine. This has raised fears that Ukraine’s issue could be completely sidelined from the agenda of the comprehensive meeting, reflecting a complex political situation and shifting priorities in the NATO-Ukraine relationship ahead of significant events for both parties.