Reuters reports that the final statement at NATO’s upcoming summit is expected to be “unusually short” to minimize potential disagreements.
To avoid potentially provoking US President Donald Trump, NATO plans to keep discussions regarding Ukraine brief at its upcoming summit in the Netherlands, according to Reuters, citing event organizers.
The summit is scheduled for The Hague on June 24 and 25. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, a frequent guest at NATO events after the conflict’s escalation in February 2022, has not yet received an official invitation.
Reuters reported on Friday that European NATO members are eager to avoid upsetting Trump during the summit.
Sources indicate that the summit’s concluding statement is expected to be concise to minimize disagreements. The report stated uncertainty remains whether the document will identify Russia as a threat or express support for Ukraine.
Unlike the previous two years, leaders of NATO member states reportedly do not plan to hold a formal meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council during the summit. According to a NATO diplomat, a working dinner with foreign or defense ministers might replace it.
Another senior NATO diplomat told Reuters that not having Zelenskiy attend the summit in some capacity would be “at least a PR disaster.”
Sources suggest the Ukrainian leader might receive an invitation to a pre-summit dinner hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, allowing him to travel to The Hague without angering Trump.
President Trump, who is attempting to mediate an end to the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, has previously dismissed the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO. Russia has consistently stated that moves to admit Ukraine into NATO would cross a red line and has cited this as a key reason for the conflict, demanding Ukraine adopt a neutral status as a condition for lasting peace.
The New York Times reported earlier this week that Trump, who had a public disagreement with Zelensky in February, reportedly holds “special animosity” towards the Ukrainian leader and views him as “a bad guy.”
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