THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — NATO leaders convened on Wednesday amid escalating tensions from Russia's military actions, particularly following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. The meeting marked a significant step towards enhancing defense spending within the alliance. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy watched from the sidelines, unable to participate directly in the discussions.
Ukraine has been embroiled in conflict with Russia since the latter's unlawful invasion in 2022. Despite Ukraine's ongoing struggle being a focal point in previous NATO summits, Zelenskyy was not in attendance during the alliance’s annual leaders' meeting in The Hague. Instead, he engaged in a series of one-on-one meetings at the summit venue, including talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he had a notable confrontation earlier in the year at the Oval Office.
Prior to the summit, Trump commented on Zelenskyy's challenges, acknowledging the difficulties faced by the Ukrainian leader. “He’s a nice guy. I mean, I’m going to meet him today. I don’t know, I assume we’re going to be discussing Ukraine,” Trump indicated. Despite the ongoing war, Trump's administration has blocked Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO.
The devastation wrought by the conflict has led to extensive destruction in Ukrainian cities and claimed numerous civilian lives. Just last week, Russia conducted one of its most significant drone assaults on Kyiv since the beginning of the invasion, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Accusations of war crimes have been leveled against Russian leaders, specifically concerning the targeting of civilian infrastructure. The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin due to his involvement in alleged child abductions during the war, which Putin has categorically denied.
On the preceding day, Tuesday, Zelenskyy engaged in a flurry of meetings, securing military aid commitments from the Netherlands, which included new drones and radar systems intended to neutralize incoming Russian drones. Furthermore, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that Britain would provide 350 air defense missiles to Ukraine, funded through £70 million (approximately $95 million) acquired from the interest on confiscated Russian assets.
During a formal dinner hosted by Dutch King Willem-Alexander at the Huis Ten Bosch palace, Zelenskyy dined alongside NATO leaders, including Trump, although they were seated at separate tables. Zelenskyy was situated with Dutch Queen Maxima, while Trump was at the king's table. As the NATO summit progressed, the Ukrainian president continued to schedule more meetings to ensure the plight of Ukraine remained a priority on the global agenda.
Later on Wednesday, Zelenskyy was set to travel to France to finalize plans for establishing a new international court designed to prosecute individuals held accountable for orchestrating Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. This special tribunal aims to target senior Russian officials implicated in the initial "crime of aggression" that has underpinned the multitude of alleged atrocities committed against Ukraine.
