NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has officially invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to participate in the upcoming Alliance summit to be held in The Hague
This occurred amid repeated speculation and increasing tension regarding the format of the Ukrainian leader's participation in events directly related to the gathering of heads of state and government of NATO member countries. According to the Dutch news agency ANP, citing sources close to NATO leadership, it was Stoltenberg himself who personally delivered the official invitation to Zelensky during a meeting held on Monday. After the meeting, the Ukrainian president stated that Ukraine sincerely seeks to be represented at NATO's summit, but it is not yet clear exactly how this will take place. Details regarding the format of the Ukrainian leader's participation remain undisclosed. Currently, there is talk of possibly participating within the framework of the summit or engaging in informal events, such as meetings of NATO defense or foreign ministers, or in so-called "informal gatherings" for heads of state — for example, a dinner organized by King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. At the same time, sources emphasize that a final decision on the format of President Zelensky's participation has not yet been made. In this context, it should be noted that the host princess of the summit, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who recently resigned amid a political crisis, supports the idea of inviting Zelensky, which may indicate a desire for greater openness and for Ukraine to be recognized as a full participant in NATO negotiations. Meanwhile, rumors have circulated in the media suggesting that the United States allegedly opposes inviting the Ukrainian leader to the summit. However, official representatives of the U.S. government deny these claims. Specifically, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States supports diplomatic efforts and is open to broad dialogue regarding Ukraine's further high-level participation in NATO. Therefore, against the backdrop of general tension and discussions surrounding the upcoming summit in The Hague, the importance and political significance of this issue have become evident. Zelensky’s invitation is not only a gesture of support from the Dutch leadership but also a signal to other NATO member countries regarding the further integration of Ukraine into the European security architecture. At the same time, the activity and stance of Washington remain key in determining the format of the Ukrainian president’s participation in this strategically important forum.