Ukraine’s NATO bid to be postponed at upcoming Hague summit - Lithuanian FM

LRT reported the information.

According to Budris, the issue of inviting Ukraine to join the Alliance is not on NATO’s agenda.

“No one has set any expectations about an invitation in The Hague, and we have not heard anything like that from the Ukrainians themselves,” he said.

The Lithuanian minister added that there are no expectations for groundbreaking decisions either at the Washington summit or at the meeting in The Hague.

Budris believes it is important to keep the summit focused on Ukraine and to emphasize that NATO countries and Kyiv, which is fighting Moscow’s aggression, share the same security space.

He also stated that Lithuania will stress Alliance unity and the importance of the U.S. role in collective deterrence and defense, as well as focus on Ukraine and the direct threat from Russia.

According to the minister, a key issue in The Hague will be increasing defense spending, as U.S. President Donald Trump is pressing allies to raise their defense budgets to 5% of GDP. Other topics to be discussed will include the conflict between Iran and Israel.

• NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that the promise to admit Ukraine into the Alliance will remain valid, even if it is not mentioned at the summit to be held in The Hague on June 24-25.