Zelensky claims he has been invited to NATO summit
Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky has claimed he has been invited to attend this year's NATO leaders' summit in The Hague. Media reports earlier suggested that the US is opposed to Zelensky's potential participation due to concerns he could be 'disruptive.'
Zelensky made the announcement on Monday after attending sessions of a NATO event in Vilnius, Lithuania, where Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with leaders from Eastern and Northern Europe. During a virtual press briefing, Zelensky said he received a formal invitation from Rutte for the summit, scheduled for June 24-25 in the Netherlands.
NATO's stance that Ukraine's path towards membership is 'irreversible' is cited by Russia as one of the key factors behind the ongoing hostilities between the two nations.
The New York Times reported last week that Zelensky's attendance in The Hague was uncertain and might be scaled back. US President Donald Trump has taken a 'dismissive' stance toward the Ukrainian leader, the newspaper said, meaning NATO officials fear the event could be disrupted rather than 'cordial.' Officials told the NYT that organizers have contemplated skipping a session of the NATO-Ukraine Council, a forum where 'allies sit with Ukraine as equals.'
Italy's ANSA news agency reported that NATO is preparing a 'very concise program' in order to minimize the risk of alienating Trump. Bloomberg said the summit's primary focus will be on boosting defense spending by member nations, in line with demands from Washington.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky escalated in February during the Ukrainian leader's visit to the US to finalize a minerals deal.
The meeting devolved into a heated exchange, with Trump, US Vice President J.D. Vance, and Zelensky clashing on camera. Zelensky criticized the US leadership for renewing diplomatic ties with Russia, although the minerals deal was ultimately signed in late April.
Last month, Kiev agreed to resume direct negotiations with Moscow, a move encouraged by the Trump administration as part of efforts to broker a ceasefire. During the latest round of talks in Istanbul on Monday, Russian negotiators offered to return the bodies of 6,000 deceased Ukrainian soldiers as a gesture of goodwill.
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