Amid intensifying conflict, Ukraine gains formal seat at NATO’s table
NATO has officially invited Ukraine to participate in its upcoming leaders’ summit, set to take place at the end of June in The Hague, marking a strong gesture of political support amid Ukraine’s continued war with Russia.
The invitation, confirmed by a NATO spokesperson to AFP, comes as part of a broader strategic alignment with Ukraine. The summit agenda will be released “in due course,” officials said, amid speculation over whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend, as he did in Vilnius and Washington for previous summits.
Despite recent silence from NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Ukraine’s participation, the official confirmation ends weeks of uncertainty.
Ramstein Format Talks: Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meets
Earlier on Wednesday (June 4), the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) convened at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, under the Ramstein format, to discuss further military aid for Ukraine.
The meeting was co-hosted by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defense Secretary John Healey. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umyerov is expected to attend in person. However, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is not expected at the UDCG meeting but will join NATO defense ministers on Thursday (June 5).
The discussions aim to coordinate ongoing support as Ukraine faces intensified Russian offensives on multiple fronts.
EU to Present Refugee Strategy for Ukrainians
Also on June 4, the European Commission plans to unveil a new policy proposal concerning Ukrainian refugees. EU Commissioner Magnus Brunner and Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Hernishov are scheduled to present the plan in Brussels.
Details of the strategy have not yet been disclosed, but the proposal comes as part of the EU’s broader humanitarian and integration efforts in response to the war.
Context: Ukraine and NATO – A Deepening Partnership
While Ukraine is not yet a NATO member, the Alliance has steadily expanded cooperation with Kyiv since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. This includes military assistance, training programs, intelligence sharing, and participation in key strategic summits.
The upcoming Hague summit is seen as another milestone in this growing partnership, amid continued debate over Ukraine’s future NATO membership path.
