Expected Meeting Between Trump and Zelensky at NATO Summit

President Donald Trump is likely to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague. The encounter is planned for the early afternoon on the summit’s sidelines. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since April, when they met at Pope Francis’ funeral in Vatican City.

During a flight to the Netherlands, Trump indicated he would probably see Zelensky, noting the meeting’s importance amid ongoing tensions. The discussions are expected to focus on Ukraine’s defense needs, including potential purchase of air defense systems, and possibly address broader topics such as sanctions against Russia and a cap on oil prices.

Donald Trump arriving at a dinner in The Hague. — The President has expressed hope for a deal and commented on the war, stating, “It’s a shame. Six or 6,500 soldiers died last week in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. A war that would never have happened if I was president.”

Trump recently criticized Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for offering to assist with Iran, during the ongoing war with Ukraine. He recounted a conversation where Putin asked if he could help with Iran, to which Trump responded skeptically, emphasizing the complex alliances and support involving Iran and Russia.

Trump and Zelensky in conversation. — In a previous meeting in April, Trump and Zelensky discussed various issues, including Ukraine’s defense and diplomatic approach.

Though Zelensky missed an opportunity to connect with Trump last week at the G7 summit due to his late arrival, the upcoming meeting at NATO could pave the way for further discussions on Ukraine’s security and US support amid the ongoing conflict.