MWE Correspondent
The long-standing hope of Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance is expected to be left out of the official statement from the upcoming NATO summit later this month, according to a report by Bloomberg.
This move reflects increasing caution among NATO members amid rising tensions between the United States and some European Union countries.
For years, Russia has viewed Ukraine’s desire to join NATO as a major threat to its national security and has warned against such a move. The draft of the summit statement, which Bloomberg reviewed, focuses mainly on defense spending goals rather than political issues like Ukraine’s membership. The summit itself will be brief, featuring a single working session and a dinner hosted by the King of the Netherlands, aiming to avoid public disagreements — especially between U.S. President Donald Trump and other NATO leaders.
Unlike last year’s summit, which saw NATO pledge $45 billion in military aid to Ukraine, this year’s meeting is not expected to renew that commitment. Instead, member countries will likely pledge to spend at least 3.5 percent of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense by 2032, with an additional 1.5 percent dedicated to infrastructure protection and civil preparedness. NATO is reportedly considering counting military aid to Ukraine toward these defense spending targets, signaling ongoing support without making it a headline issue.
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The alliance’s new Secretary-General, Mark Rutte, is said to want the summit to be seen as a diplomatic success for President Trump, who has criticized NATO members for not meeting their defense spending responsibilities.
Earlier this month, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) news agency reported that NATO leaders agreed to avoid discussing Ukraine’s membership at this summit to reduce political tensions. Russia has maintained that Ukraine joining NATO would cross a “red line” and has called for Ukraine to remain non-aligned.
This approach shows NATO’s careful balancing act — continuing to support Ukraine’s defense needs while trying to avoid escalating tensions with Russia, highlighting the complex geopolitical challenges facing the alliance today.
