NATO Summit downplays Ukraine to Avoid Angering Trump

⁢ ⁤Updated June 7,⁢ 2025

NATO plans to limit discussions about Ukraine at ‍its upcoming summit in The Hague, Netherlands, according to Reuters. The move ‍appears designed to avoid provoking Donald Trump, with European‍ members eager to maintain alliance unity.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a frequent attendee at NATO events as⁢ the conflict with Russia escalated in 2022, has not yet received‍ an official invitation to the summit‍ scheduled for June 24 and 25.

Sources indicate that the summit’s final statement ⁤is expected⁢ to⁣ be concise to reduce‍ potential disagreements. The inclusion of Russia⁤ as a threat or explicit support for Ukraine remains uncertain.

One‍ senior NATO diplomat told Reuters that not inviting Zelenskyy to the summit would ⁤be “at least a PR disaster.”

Instead, Zelenskyy may receive an invitation to a pre-summit dinner hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander, allowing him to attend without directly engaging with Trump, sources suggest.

Trump, who has expressed ⁣interest in brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, has ⁣previously opposed Ukraine’s NATO membership. Russia views Ukraine’s potential ‍NATO accession as a red ⁣line and a key factor in the‍ ongoing conflict, advocating for Ukraine’s neutral status as a condition for lasting peace.

Earlier this week, The ⁤New York⁢ Times reported that Trump harbors “special ⁤animosity” toward Zelenskyy, viewing him as a “bad guy.”

What’s next

The NATO summit’s approach to Ukraine‍ will likely‍ influence future discussions and strategies regarding⁤ the ongoing conflict ‍and the alliance’s relationship with both Ukraine and Russia.