NATO plans to limit focus on Ukraine in next summit

(MENAFN) An upcoming NATO summit in the Netherlands will feature a significantly scaled-back agenda, with Ukraine receiving far less attention than in previous gatherings, according to sources cited by a news agency.

Scheduled to take place at The Hague’s World Forum on June 24–25, the meeting will now include just two key events: a formal welcome dinner hosted by the Dutch royal family and a single session of the North Atlantic Council. Notably absent from the agenda is any meeting of NATO’s Ukraine Council.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly been invited only to the welcome dinner, and it remains uncertain whether he will attend. Sources familiar with the planning suggest the limited schedule reflects efforts to accommodate the preferences of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently shown frustration with lengthy multilateral summits and ceremonial events.

This reduction in scope follows a disrupted G7 summit, during which Trump left early and rejected a proposed joint declaration on the war in Ukraine. The incident reportedly influenced NATO’s decision to avoid drafting a similar comprehensive communique for this summit.

Instead, the alliance is expected to release only brief statements summarizing any new agreements. A major focus of the gathering will be encouraging member states to commit to raising their defense spending to 5% of GDP—a significant increase from previous targets.

Sources noted that streamlining the schedule is also seen as a precaution to prevent disruptions during what is expected to be a critical moment for the alliance’s financial and military commitments.

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