NATO looks to feature Zelenskyy in upcoming summit

Ruben Brekelmans said this on the program WNL op Zondag, as reported by NRC.

Brekelmans commented on the possible participation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the NATO leaders’ meeting. “We are looking for a way to include Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainians in the program,” he said.

It is unlikely to be a plenary session attended by the leaders of all 32 NATO member states. At the previous summit in Washington in July last year, the Ukrainian president joined the leaders of all member countries.

However, according to media reports, this year the NATO–Ukraine Council, which allows for such a format, is unlikely to be held. The summit itself is expected to be shortened to avoid controversy with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Brekelmans noted that the meeting with Zelenskyy could take a different form, though he did not specify what kind.

"Whether it will be a session with U.S. President Donald Trump, I don’t know. As far as the Netherlands is concerned, Zelenskyy is always a welcome guest at any meeting," Brekelmans said in response to the host’s question.

He also confirmed that Ukraine’s future NATO membership remains “irreversible,” despite earlier statements from the U.S. government. "Even under Biden, it was never said that this could happen in the near future. Nothing has changed in that regard," Brekelmans added.

• On May 25, Radio Free Europe reported that due to Trump, NATO is preparing a mini-declaration for The Hague summit, likely without any mention of Ukraine.