Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to meet with President Trump on Tuesday during the NATO summit in The Hague, following their missed opportunity at the recent Group of Seven summit.
The Ukrainian leader's team is actively coordinating with President Trump's staff to finalize the details of this anticipated meeting. Discussions have also been held with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to outline potential topics and the structure of the dialogue.
According to The Washington Times, both leaders were initially scheduled to meet at the G7 summit, but unforeseen circumstances led to their early departures. President Trump left to address escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, while President Zelenskyy returned to Ukraine amid reports of renewed Russian strikes on Kyiv.
In a conversation with the Kyiv Independent, President Zelenskyy voiced his concerns regarding the U.S. stance on Russian aggression, emphasizing the importance of a robust alliance between Kyiv and Washington against Moscow. "It is a complicated question because I truly do not know what relationship Trump has with Putin," he remarked, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"They will never be friends. They may be short-term partners, but they will never be friends." Zelenskyy expressed hope that President Trump might leverage his rapport with Putin to push for peace negotiations.
The relationship between Kyiv and Washington has faced challenges since a contentious Oval Office meeting between the two leaders, which reportedly devolved into a public shouting match. Despite this, there have been some positive developments, such as two rounds of prisoner exchanges and the initiation of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
However, the two countries remain at an impasse over peace terms, with Ukraine advocating for a ceasefire and Russia insisting that Kyiv refrain from joining NATO. The ongoing conflict is further complicated by continued drone and missile strikes from both sides, hindering the prospects for peace.
During the NATO summit, President Zelenskyy is also scheduled to engage with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Secretary-General Rutte anticipates that NATO members will endorse a new defense investment plan, raising the defense spending benchmark to 5% of GDP.
However, Spain has expressed opposition to this increase. Rutte highlighted that the summit will prioritize sustained support for Ukraine and the pursuit of a "just and lasting end to Russias war of aggression."
"NATO has detailed defence plans in place. We know how to tackle the dangers that confront us. And we are committed to defending every inch of Allied territory, should any potential adversary make the mistake of attacking any Ally," Rutte assured member nations. "Based on those plans, Allies have agreed on an ambitious new set of capability targets the specific, practical requirements that ensure that we can implement our defense plans."
As the summit unfolds, the international community will be closely watching the interactions between President Zelenskyy and President Trump, hoping for progress in addressing the ongoing conflict and strengthening the alliance between the United States and Ukraine.
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