Behind the scenes of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague: potential expectations for Zelensky’s meeting with European leaders
Participants on the international stage are closely monitoring preparations for the important NATO summit, which will take place in The Hague on June 24–25. Although this event is not scheduled to be a major platform for high-level Ukrainian representatives within the Ukraine-NATO Council at the heads of state level, there is a possibility of unforeseen diplomatic meetings between key players. Particular attention is given to the potential for private or semi-official dialogues between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in a format that would allow discussing pressing issues directly after the main part of the summit concludes. According to unofficial sources informally speaking to the "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty" editorial team, including Rikard Jozwiak, the editor of a well-known Ukrainian publication "European Pravda," it should be noted that a high-level Ukraine-NATO Council is not expected to be held during the event. However, Jozwiak adds that during the transitional period following the main discussions, meetings between Ukrainian representatives and leaders of NATO partner countries, including President Zelensky, are anticipated. Reports indicate that Ukrainian senior officials plan to hold informal talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other European heads of state. This could serve as a diplomatic bridge for Ukraine during a difficult time, when questions of continued support from allies remain urgent. Meanwhile, the official part of the event, organizationally, will proceed in a condensed format: participants are preparing carefully for the events less than a day in advance, and the Ukraine-NATO Council meetings are scheduled only at the level of foreign ministers. In fact, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to be invited to attend the NATO leaders’ official dinner organized on June 24 by Dutch King Willem-Alexander. This is one of the key events that will give the Ukrainian president an opportunity to make informal contacts and directly discuss current issues with foreign colleagues. However, despite the diplomatic gesture of support, some sources suggest that the prospects of active U.S. involvement in the military conflict and the search for long-term solutions for Ukraine raise certain skepticism among Ukraine’s elite. Dozens of analysts and diplomats note that in the context of global geo-economic and military changes, the scheduled summit could become a test for European intervention in the situation around Ukraine, as well as a reflection of changing U.S. attitudes towards supporting Kyiv. Predictions involving high-profile guests and negotiations at levels that push issues beyond official protocols remain speculative at this stage. Overall, the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague is a key event in shaping a new security strategy for the region of Europe and the world. The diplomatic decisions made there will influence Ukraine’s future, its support in countering Russian aggression, and the state of relations between Kyiv and the alliance’s main allies. Time will tell how much these diplomatic intrigues and possible meetings within the walls of this unique forum will impact the future of Ukrainian-European and global security processes.