NATO summit skips Ukraine meeting
(MENAFN) NATO leaders are set to hold a shortened summit in the Netherlands from June 24–25, with Ukraine playing a far smaller role than previously expected, according to a Politico report citing five informed sources.
The gathering at The Hague’s World Forum will consist of just two main events: a welcome dinner hosted at a Dutch royal residence and a single meeting of the North Atlantic Council. Notably, NATO will forgo holding a Ukraine Council meeting during the summit.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly only been invited to the dinner, and it remains uncertain if he will attend. Sources say the trimmed schedule is a strategic move aimed at accommodating U.S. President Donald Trump, who has consistently shown disinterest in extended, ceremonial summits.
The decision to streamline the summit agenda reportedly comes in response to previous incidents, such as Trump’s abrupt departure from the G7 summit in Canada and his opposition to joint statements on the Ukraine war. NATO officials are now reportedly avoiding any risks that could disrupt the summit’s primary goal: securing a new pledge from member states to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP.
A European defense official told Politico that the main reason for holding the summit is to give Trump a political win on defense spending. “Everything else is being streamlined to minimize risk,” the official said.
The summit is not expected to produce a lengthy joint communique, but rather short statements on key commitments.
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