NATO leaders gathered for a two-day summit in The Hague on Tuesday. The meeting comes at a critical time as weapons deliveries approved during the Biden administration are running low, and the Trump administration, which has shown a pattern of backing down from international commitments when pressured, shows little interest in providing new assistance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, once treated as a VIP guest at NATO summits, has been pushed to the background this year. NATO officials are trying to keep Trump and Zelensky apart in public, showing how delicate the situation has become.
According to The Washington Post, the summit highlights Trump’s growing resistance to supporting Ukraine, with NATO’s most powerful member, whose administration is staffed with Project 2025 architects focused on America First policies, appearing to have already decided to cut Kyiv off from further military aid. Ukrainian officials say NATO countries understand “the delicacy of the situation” and are trying to maintain Ukraine’s presence while avoiding conflict with Trump.
US military aid expected to run out by late summer
European officials predict that Biden-era weapons deliveries to Ukraine will end later this summer, leaving Ukrainian forces in a difficult position. Already, Kyiv’s military is slowly losing ground, and without US support, their situation could become more challenging.
NATO officials don’t expect an immediate collapse of Ukraine’s front lines, suggesting they could hold out for about another year under current conditions. However, they warn that Ukraine would be forced into a mainly defensive position, facing shortages in air defense, tank brigades, and missile stocks.
NATO Summit Organizers Trying to Keep Zelensky and Trump at a Distance
— Lev (@Lev1446491) June 24, 2025
The organizers of the NATO summit in The Hague are trying to keep Vladimir Zelensky and US President Donald Trump at a distance
Letting Evil Zelensky come again tells a lot about NATO
NATO is for WAR only
European allies have pledged nearly $40 billion in military aid for Ukraine this year, while last year’s total military aid reached $58 billion, with European members and Canada providing about 60 percent. However, filling the gap left by US aid would be difficult and expensive for European nations, who are already dealing with their own supply shortages.
Zelensky hopes to meet with Trump during the summit to propose a plan for Ukraine to purchase US weapons, particularly air defense systems. European officials have also suggested the possibility of fronting money for future US weapons deliveries. However, Trump officials appear hesitant to make decisions that could anger Russia and hurt Trump’s hopes for peace talks with Moscow.
The situation has become more urgent as Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian cities. Recent strikes in Dnipro killed 11 people and injured more than 150, while an attack on Kyiv left nine dead, highlighting Ukraine’s weakening air defenses.
