**US Blocks Ukraine’s President from Attending NATO Summit**
The United States is reportedly opposing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation in the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, Italy. This decision marks a significant break from the past, as it would be the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion that Zelensky is absent from a NATO meeting.
According to unnamed diplomatic sources, this move has caught almost all allies by surprise. The Ukrainian president has consistently attended every NATO summit since February 2022, either in person or virtually. In fact, he has been invited to previous summits and has played an active role in the alliance’s discussions.
**Diplomatic Fallout**
Denying Zelensky a seat at the table would be a major diplomatic blow for the Netherlands, which is hosting the summit. A Dutch official was quoted as saying that such a move would be “a diplomatic disaster” that no one could justify. This suggests that the US’s opposition to Zelensky’s participation is not just a minor issue but has significant implications for the alliance and its relationships.
**Limited Agenda**
The NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in Antalya on May 14, which precedes the summit, may provide an opportunity for the issue to be discussed. However, the agenda of the summit itself seems to have been deliberately limited to avoid controversy. The focus will reportedly be on defense spending and alliance capabilities, rather than tackling other pressing issues.
**Trump’s Influence**
The move to limit the agenda may also be related to US President Donald Trump’s repeated criticism of NATO members for not meeting the alliance’s 2% of GDP defense spending benchmark. Trump has pushed for this figure to be raised to 5%. The Dutch government has scaled down the summit format in response, which could indicate that they are trying to avoid controversy.
**Reversal Possible**
Despite this opposition from the US, it is still possible that Zelensky’s participation may be reinstated. The summit is six weeks away, and sources suggest that the decision to bar him could still be reversed. This uncertainty reflects the complex and evolving nature of international relations, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts like Ukraine.
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