Next week’s Nato summit in The Hague will be significantly shortened to accommodate President Donald Trump’s short attention span — and a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be carefully avoided, The Times reports.

Nato format cut to single session

The 25 July summit will consist of just one 2.5-hour session, a major departure from NATO’s usual multi-session format. According to The Times, diplomats hope the streamlined event will reduce the risk of tension or unpredictability.

“It is about keeping the summit focused, short and sweet,” a diplomat told the paper. “Trump can be impatient and has — [he has] said it himself — a short attention span. The shorter the better.”

There will be no joint press conference between Trump and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and the summit’s final communiqué will be just five paragraphs, printed on a single sheet of paper.

Zelenskyy excluded from main talks

President Zelenskyy will be present in The Hague only for a leaders’ dinner on 24 June. He has not been invited to the main summit session, and no meeting of the NATO–Ukraine Council at the heads-of-state level is scheduled. Instead, he is expected to speak at a Defense Industry Forum on the sidelines.

Diplomatic sources suggest the decision aims to prevent any direct confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy. While Euractiv and ANSA reported the US opposed Zelenskyy’s formal invitation, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that claim.

Ukraine dropped from final statement

Despite Ukraine’s long-standing bid to join the alliance, the country will neither be invited to join nor even mentioned in the final NATO communiqué, diplomatic sources told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The statement will label Russia as a “direct threat”, but omit any language about Ukraine’s future in the alliance.

Ukraine’s desire for NATO membership dates back to 2008, and its constitution enshrines the goal of joining. Yet even after three years of full-scale war against Russia, no formal steps toward membership are expected in The Hague.

“This issue is definitely not on NATO’s agenda, and there have been no expectations of an invitation in The Hague,” Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys told LRT.

Defence spending target to please Trump

The summit’s main goal will be agreement on a new defence spending target of 5% of GDP by 2032, with a review in 2029. The proposal includes 3.5% for core military budgets and 1.5% for defense-related spending.

The decision will be framed as a personal win for Trump, who has long demanded more spending from European allies.

“Keeping unity in the alliance is as much a priority as spending more on defence,” said EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas.

Trump left G7 early, skipped meeting with Zelenskyy

The decision to avoid a Trump–Zelenskyy encounter at the NATO summit follows a similar scene just days earlier. Trump abruptly left the G7 summit in Canada, skipping a planned meeting with Zelenskyy.

According to The Guardian, Trump exited early, “citing the Israel‑Iran conflict.” Reuters reported that Zelenskyy was denied a meeting with his most powerful ally, leaving the Ukrainian side frustrated and empty-handed after the gathering.

Ukraine will neither be invited to join NATO nor mentioned in the final communiqué of next week’s NATO leaders’ summit in The Hague, according to diplomatic sources.

Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has made NATO membership a central pillar of its national security strategy. The country’s constitution enshrines this goal, and public support remains strong. NATO first declared in 2008 that Ukraine “will become a member,” and in recent years, Western leaders have repeatedly referred to Ukraine’s “irreversible path” toward the Alliance.

Yet despite three years of full-scale war fought under the banner of Euro-Atlantic integration—and multiple high-level assurances—Ukraine has not been invited to join. Now, it won’t even be mentioned in NATO’s top-level statement.

NATO membership not on the table

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys confirmed that Ukrainian membership is not up for discussion.

“This issue is definitely not on NATO’s agenda, and there have been no expectations of an invitation in The Hague,” Budrys told LRT. “We haven’t heard this from the Ukrainians either.”

According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the final communiqué is expected to be unusually brief—likely a single page. While it will identify Russia as a long-term threat, it is not expected to reference Ukraine at all.

Allies push for higher defense spending

Member states are expected to commit to raising defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2032, with a review in 2029. That timeline aligns with the end of a potential second term for Donald Trump, who has supported higher military spending but has questioned NATO’s direction and further expansion.

Zelenskyy’s limited role at the summit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend a leaders’ working dinner on 24 June, where Trump is also expected. However, he will not participate in the main summit session, and no meeting of the NATO–Ukraine Council at the heads-of-state level is scheduled. Zelenskyy is instead expected to speak at a Defense Industry Forum held on the sidelines.

On 2 June, Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine had been invited to the summit in some capacity, but the format and prominence of his involvement remain unclear.

On 15 May, Euractiv reported that, for the first time in three years, Zelenskyy would not be invited to participate in NATO’s main discussions—allegedly to avoid provoking Donald Trump. Around the same time, ANSA reported that the US was reportedly opposed to his formal invitation. However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied these claims, saying the United States had no objection to Zelenskyy’s participation.

An invitation for Ukraine to become a member of NATO "is not on the agenda" of the upcoming summit in The Hague, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said in an interview with the Baltic News Service published on June 18.

"This issue is certainly not on the NATO agenda and nobody has formulated an expectation that there will be an invitation in The Hague, nor have we heard that from the Ukrainians themselves," Budrys said in comments quoted by the LRT broadcaster.

"There is no such expectation that there will be breakthrough decisions, neither before the Washington summit nor now before the Hague summit – it is not on the agenda."

The comments, coming less than a week before the summit, hint at a shifting rhetoric within the alliance regarding Ukraine's potential membership after U.S. President Donald Trump took office.

The new Trump administration has spoken out against Kyiv's accession, and the U.S. president even echoed the false Russian narratives that its efforts to join NATO helped instigate Russia's full-scale invasion.

Unlike during the previous summits, the final communique may reportedly completely omit the topic of Ukraine's membership, as NATO members seek to avoid a conflict with Trump. The gathering was also preceded by rumors that Ukraine may not be invited due to U.S. opposition, but the invitation was extended in the end.

In spite of these tensions, Budrys said that the summit should keep its focus on Ukraine, stressing that the war-torn country is part of the Euro-Atlantic security space.

Ukraine applied for NATO membership in September 2022, months after the outbreak of the full-scale Russian invasion. The alliance has signaled support for Kyiv's accession efforts in previous years, even declaring at the Washington summit in 2024 that Ukraine's path to membership is "irreversible" — but stopping short of a formal invite.

Kyiv's swift entry seems increasingly unlikely amid opposition from the U.S. and several other members, even though NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently reaffirmed that a political commitment to Ukraine's membership stands. Ukraine would need support from all 32 members to join.

It remains uncertain whether The Hague summit will lead to any breakthroughs regarding Ukraine. Following signals that U.S. President Donald Trump may not attend the event, the Guardian reported that President Volodymyr Zelensky may skip the summit as well.

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The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

President Volodymyr Zelensky may reconsider attending the NATO summit in The Hague, as questions remain over U.S. President Donald Trump's participation, the Guardian reported on June 17, citing unnamed Ukrainian officials.

According to the Guardian, some in Kyiv are unsure if Zelensky's presence at the June 24-25 summit would be worthwhile without a confirmed meeting with Trump, whom they had hoped to engage directly in efforts to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into accepting a ceasefire.

Earlier, Zelensky had traveled to the G7 summit in Canada, hoping to meet one-on-one with Trump and push for stronger sanctions against Russia. Trump left the summit early, citing the crisis in the Middle East, and no bilateral meeting or joint G7 statement took place.

One official told the Guardian that Ukraine is in a "permanent hazard" of becoming a victim of "Trump's short attention span," adding that Russia has exploited this uncertainty by fresh aerial attacks. The source added that there had been "all sorts of promises for this summit," including U.S. arms.

The Russian attack on Ukraine that occurred during the G7 summit killed at least 24 civilians and injured 134 in Kyiv. Trump has not responded to the attack as of the day after.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reportedly said Trump had previously promised to attend the NATO gathering, though no official confirmation has been issued from Washington.

Despite the setback, Zelensky said the G7 meeting had concrete results for Ukraine. In a Telegram post on June 17, he thanked partners for increased military aid, new sanctions on Russia, and the decision to allocate frozen Russian assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

"It is important that our partners are ready not only to support our defense now, but also to rebuild Ukraine together after the war ends," he said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a support package that includes 2 billion Canadian dollars ($1.5 billion) in military assistance and another $1.6 billion in reconstruction loans. The aid includes drones, armored vehicles, ammunition, and sanctions to disrupt Russia's energy revenues.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer also unveiled new sanctions targeting Russia's military-industrial complex and 20 oil tankers from Russia's "shadow fleet."

Zelensky later told G7 leaders that "diplomacy is now in a state of crisis" and called on allies to press Trump to "use his real influence" to help end the war.

Ukraine has been invited to the NATO summit, and Zelensky previously called the invitation "important" during a June 2 press briefing. At the time, he did not confirm whether he would attend in person.

As Trump stays silent, US Embassy makes late denunciation of Russia’s attack on Kyiv

“We extend deepest condolences to the victims’ families. This senseless attack runs counter to President Trump’s call to stop the killing and end the war,” the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said in a statement.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 13 appointed Aliona Hetmanchuk as the head of Ukraine's mission to NATO, replacing Nataliia Halibarenko.

The appointment came "at a critical time for the future of Ukraine, for the future of NATO itself, and, of course, for Ukraine's future in NATO. I realize the responsibility," Hetmanchuk said on her Facebook page on June 13.

"As for this moment, we will be fully immersed in preparations for the summit in The Hague," she added, referring to the upcoming NATO summit that will take place in the Netherlands on June 24 and 25, with Ukraine participating.

Hetmanchuk is a leading Ukrainian foreign policy expert with a background in journalism. She is the founder and director of the New Europe Center and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center.

Previously, Hetmanchuk co-founded and directed the Institute of World Policy and has advised the Presidential Consultation Committee between Ukraine and Poland since 2016.

Ukraine applied for alliance membership in September 2022, several months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. While NATO has repeatedly affirmed that Kyiv will eventually join, it has yet to extend a formal invitation.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on June 9 that the political commitment to Ukraine's future membership in NATO remains unchanged, even if it is not explicitly mentioned in the final communique of the upcoming summit in The Hague.

"The irreversible path of Ukraine into NATO is there, and it is my assumption that it is still there after the summit," Rutte said at Chatham House in London.

Rutte's comments follow reporting that this year's summit communique, set for release after the June 24–25 meeting, may exclude references to Ukraine. This would mark a notable departure from previous gatherings, where Kyiv's future in NATO took center stage.

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“He (Russian President Vladimir Putin) fought with us in World War II… and now everybody hates Russia and loves Germany and Japan. It’s a strange world,” U.S. President Donald Trump said.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

The political commitment to Ukraine's future membership in NATO remains unchanged, even if it is not explicitly mentioned in the final communique of the upcoming summit in The Hague, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on June 9.

"The irreversible path of Ukraine into NATO is there, and it is my assumption that it is still there after the summit," Rutte said at Chatham House in London.

"Whether it is again in the communique or not, I think that's not relevant, because all the language we previously agreed on is there — until we decide it is no longer there."

Rutte's comments follow reporting that this year's summit communique, set for release after the June 24–25 meeting, may exclude references to Russia and Ukraine. This would mark a notable departure from previous gatherings, where Kyiv's future in NATO took center stage.

Ukraine applied for alliance membership in September 2022, several months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion. While NATO has repeatedly affirmed that Kyiv will eventually join, it has yet to extend a formal invitation.

U.S. President Donald Trump, who is set to attend the summit, has claimed that Ukraine's NATO aspirations provoked the war — a line frequently echoed in Russian propaganda. He also signaled plans to reduce U.S. military presence in Europe and has been reluctant to provide new military support to Kyiv.

President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on June 2 that Ukraine had been invited to the upcoming summit, despite earlier speculation that the country might be excluded due to opposition from the Trump administration.

The Ukrainian president has attended every NATO summit since February 2022: in person in 2024 in Washington and 2023 in Vilnius, and virtually in 2022.

This year's summit is expected to focus more cautiously on alliance posture and defense spending, as internal divisions surface over support for Ukraine and broader geopolitical commitments.

Russian missile and drone barrage hits Kyiv, Odesa, killing 2 and injuring 12, damaging maternity hospital

In the early hours of June 10, Kyiv and Odesa came under another mass Russian attack, involving ballistic missiles and drones. Explosions were heard across the capital as air defense systems engaged the targets.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will call for a 400% increase in air and missile defence systems during a speech in London on 9 June, Reuters reported, citing Rutte’s office.

The proposal represents one of the key priorities for the upcoming NATO summit scheduled for 24-25 June in The Hague, where alliance members will discuss enhanced defence capabilities.

The NATO chief argues that current defence levels are insufficient for maintaining credible deterrence.

“The fact is, we need a quantum leap in our collective defence. The fact is, we must have more forces and capabilities to implement our defence plans in full,” he said.

Rutte’s call comes as European nations face mounting pressure to increase military spending following signals from US President Donald Trump about shifting American policy priorities. The Secretary General is pushing alliance members to boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP, with an additional 1.5% allocated to broader security-related expenditures.

This would meet Trump’s demand for a 5% target, which Rutte said last month he assumed would be agreed at the June summit.

Bloomberg previously reported that NATO has asked European member countries to increase ground-based air defence forces by five times, though individual targets for each nation vary and implementation timelines remain undetermined.

Several countries have already announced spending increases. Britain pledged to raise defence expenditure from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a target of 3% at a later date. Germany indicated it will need approximately 50,000 to 60,000 additional active soldiers under new NATO requirements.

The enhanced defence call reflects ongoing concerns about regional security amid Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine.

Ukraine has been invited to the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague between June 24 and 25, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a June 2 online press conference attended by the Kyiv Independent.

"We were invited to the NATO summit. I think this is important," Zelensky said, adding that he held a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during the Vilnius summit of the Bucharest Nine (B9) and the Nordic countries on June 2.

"Now, (Foreign Minister Andrii) Sybiha will be speaking with his colleagues regarding infrastructure and what potential outcomes may arise from this summit in The Hague."

Zelensky did not specify who would be representing Ukraine at the summit or whether he would attend the event himself.

The statement follows speculations that the allies decided not to invite Ukraine to the annual summit due to opposition from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied the claims, and the Netherlands said it would welcome Zelensky's attendance.

At the previous NATO summit in Washington in 2024, Zelensky was a prominent presence, engaging directly with allied leaders. This year, the tone appears more cautious as NATO members weigh how to handle Ukraine's future in the alliance amid renewed questions about U.S. commitment.

Trump has claimed that Ukraine provoked the war by pursuing NATO membership, a narrative often used by Russian propaganda to justify its 2022 full-scale invasion. He also signaled plans to reduce U.S. military presence in Europe and has been reluctant to provide new military support to Kyiv.

Earlier reporting suggested that this year's communique may omit direct mention of both Russia and Ukraine — a contrast to past summits where Ukraine dominated the agenda.

‘Idiots’ — Zelensky slams Russia’s proposal for brief truce to retrieve fallen soldiers’ bodies

“They just don’t see a ceasefire as such at the moment,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 2, commenting on Russia’s proposal. “I think they’re idiots, because, fundamentally, a ceasefire is meant so that there are no dead.”

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

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Military

Ukrainian attack targets Russian facility 800 kilometers from border that supplies gunpowder manufacturers. Ukrainian drones struck the same Russian chemical facility for the second time in five months, hitting a plant that supplies materials for military explosives production.

Ukrainian drones target Splav rocket plant in Russia’s Tula for the third time this month. Geolocated video suggests the same workshop was hit last night as in a prior attack on NPO Splav site. Alternatively, one of the Russian equipment storage bases might have been a target.

Drones hit Russia’s Shahed drone factory 1,200 km from Ukraine again. The facility in Tatarstan’s Yelabuga was previously targeted in April.

Ukraine faces third consecutive night of massive Russian drone attacks. Russian forces conducted their most extensive missile and drone strikes of the full-scale war over the past 48 hours. Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, and Kharkiv oblasts sustained another Russian attack overnight on 26 May

German Merz: Ukraine now free to strike deep inside Russia with Western long-range weapons. Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized that these strikes only target military infrastructure and not civilians unlike Russian attacks.

ISW: Russia ramps up missile strikes and propaganda in bid to crush Ukrainian morale and Western will. With battlefield progress stalled, Moscow turns to messaging warfare.

As of 26 MAY 2025, the approximate losses of weapons and military equipment of the Russian Armed Forces from the beginning of the invasion to the present day:

• • • Personnel: 981850 (+1000)
    • Tanks: 10858 (+4)
    • APV: 22641 (+8)
    • Artillery systems: 28320 (+51)
    • MLRS: 1397 (+1)
    • Anti-aircraft systems: 1171
    • Aircraft: 372
    • Helicopters: 336
    • UAV: 37631 (+264)
    • Cruise missiles : 3256 (+53)
    • Warships/boats: 28
    • Submarines: 1
    • Vehicles and fuel tanks: 49843 (+92)

Intelligence and technology

Ukraine intelligence: Russia can theoretically mobilize 25 million people. Only 3 million would be combat ready. Since the full-scale invasion began, Moscow mobilized 1.3 million troops and nearly one million of Russian soldiers were killed or wounded during this time, while the Kremlin remains committed to the war of attrition in Ukraine.

Belarus has nuclear carriers but no warheads, says Ukrainian intelligence. Ukraine’s intelligence service says that nuclear weapon carriers including aircraft and Iskander missiles are present in Belarus but no warheads have been deployed there despite Russian deployment agreements.

International

Netherlands sends last batch of F-16s to protect Ukraine amid intensified Russian attacks. The completion of the 24-aircraft donation comes as Ukrainian forces face daily Russian air attacks, with the jets providing enhanced survivability over outdated Soviet aircraft.

Sweden allocates half a billion dollars for Ukraine defense and security. The funding will be distributed across multiple international procurement initiatives rather than direct weapons transfers.

Latvia urges EU to shut visa door on Russians. Latvian interior and foreign ministers cite security risks as grounds for halting all new visas to Russian nationals.

EU warns US: “Peace through strength” only works if Ukraine gets more support. EU defense chief Kubilius says Ukraine’s partners must step up, or peace will remain out of reach.

Merz: Hungary and Slovakia could lose EU funds over pro-Russia stance. EU won’t tolerate Hungary and Slovakia blocking Russia sanctions, the German Chancellor says.

Dutch defense chief seeks to include Zelenskyy to June NATO summit in The Hague. Minister Ruben Brekelmans stated though that Zelenskyy’s participation would likely occur outside the main session with all 32 member states.

Macron: Trump now realizes Putin lied to him about Ukraine peace readiness. French President said this in response to Trump’s recent comments that Putin “has gone absolutely crazy” and “needlessly kills a lot of people” following a deadly 25 May attack on Ukraine.

Trump slams Putin as “crazy” after deadly Russian attack, but also blames Zelenskyy and Biden. He believes something “happened” to Putin, while claiming Zelenskyy worsens the war.

EU Defense Chief: “Russia not as powerful as thought” – won’t win Ukraine war. European Commissioner Andrius Kubilius says the EU must avoid a “chaotic divorce” with America while preparing for reduced US military involvement in European defense.

Read our earlier daily review here.

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans is working to secure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s participation at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague on 24-25 June.

Brekelmans said that officials are examining how to include Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian representatives in the summit program, though likely not in the main plenary session with all 32 NATO member states, according to NRC. He also acknowledged uncertainty about whether any session would include US President Donald Trump.

“As far as the Netherlands is concerned, Zelenskyy is welcome at every meeting,” Brekelmans stated.

This approach differs from the previous Washington summit in July last year, where Zelenskyy participated alongside all alliance leaders.

During the 2024 NATO summit in Washington, the member states adopted a declaration committing €40 billion in defense funding for Ukraine through 2025. 

The minister reaffirmed that Ukraine’s future NATO membership remains on an “irreversible path”, despite previous Trump’s statements that Ukraine should “forget about it.”

Brekelmans argued that the timeline has not fundamentally changed since the Biden presidency, when immediate membership was also not considered feasible.

 “Even during Biden’s presidency, it was never said that this could happen in the near future. That hasn’t changed,” Brekelmans noted.

The minister expressed skepticism about near-term peace negotiations, arguing that Russian President Vladimir Putin shows no genuine interest in ceasefire discussions. Brekelmans concluded that sustained pressure on Russia remains necessary to create conditions where Putin might seriously consider peace talks.

This year’s summit will be the first summit led by Mark Rutte as Secretary General of NATO. NATO officials believe he will need all his diplomatic skills to secure a successful outcome — particularly in avoiding tensions with US President Donald Trump.

On 26 May, the Netherlands completed a delivery of a final batch of its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine of all 24 promised aircraft.

The jets serve multiple roles in Ukrainian defense operations, including intercepting Russian drones and missiles targeting Ukrainian cities daily.