In The Hague, Netherlands, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized on Monday that discussions surrounding Ukraine would be central during an upcoming alliance summit despite the absence of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from the leaders’ meeting, where discussions aim to secure an agreement on increasing military expenditure.
Rutte conveyed to reporters ahead of the two-day summit that there would be significant discussions regarding Ukraine, highlighting plans for increasing defense spending ties with Ukraine through 2035 and supporting Ukraine in its ongoing conflict. “This demonstrates a firm commitment from the allies,” Rutte stated.
However, the presence of the Ukrainian leader remains unconfirmed at the leadership dinner of the NATO summit, implying a shift from the diplomatic attention Ukraine received in past alliance assemblies. Despite this, leaders continue to emphasize the necessity of strengthening military forces against the Russian threat.
This scenario marks a notable change from last year’s summit in Washington, where the military alliance promised long-term security aid to Ukraine and backed its “irreversible path” towards NATO membership.
Tensions persist between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump since a tense Oval Office visit earlier this year, which has hindered Zelenskyy’s inclusion in major NATO discussions. Although Zelenskyy will participate in other summit meetings, he won’t be present at the leaders’ working session on Wednesday, even as Rutte acknowledged the ongoing conflict’s profound impact on the discussions.
“Of course, the foremost and direct threat this alliance faces is the Russian Federation,” Rutte noted. “Moscow continues its aggressive actions against Ukraine, receiving support from countries like North Korea, Iran, China, and Belarus.”
Rutte stressed NATO’s significant financial support for Ukraine’s defense, highlighting substantial contributions from European allies and Canada. “For the coming year, allies are committed to providing over €35 billion in security assistance to Ukraine,” Rutte reported. “In just a few months, commitments increased from €20 billion to €35 billion. This represents a major milestone.”
Meanwhile, Moscow launched an overnight assault on Ukraine with 352 drones and decoys, alongside 11 ballistic and five cruise missiles, according to Ukraine’s air force, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and multiple injuries.