The Hague, Netherlands – June 25, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy are set to hold face‑to‑face talks today on the margins of the NATO summit in The Hague, the White House confirmed on June 24 .The meeting, scheduled for early afternoon, marks their first in-person engagement since their contentious February encounter at the Vatican during Pope Francis’ funeral . Coming amid escalating tensions over Ukraine’s defensive needs and U.S. military aid, the discussion is expected to focus heavily on Kyiv’s request for U.S. Patriot air-defense systems, enhanced sanctions on Russia, and an international oil price cap .“He wants to discuss weapons… including Patriot missile defence systems,” one source told AFP. The summit itself is dominated by NATO’s plan to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP—a target championed by Trump but viewed as ambitious by many allies . Meanwhile, the Alliance has reportedly sidestepped the question of new U.S. aid to Ukraine, acknowledging the outgoing Biden‐era funds are nearly exhausted . Trump’s commitment to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defence has also come under scrutiny, as he previously suggested he would hesitate to defend allies under certain conditions .Ahead of his departure, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he would “probably” meet with Zelenskiy . White House officials later confirmed the sit‑down, describing it as “scheduled at some point during the NATO summit” .Zelenskiy’s presence in The Hague underscores Ukraine’s urgency for long-term Western military and economic backing, even as some NATO officials have reportedly sought to limit discussions of the war to avoid clashes with Trump .The meeting is poised to signal whether the U.S., under Trump, will commit to supplying advanced air-defence systems and maintaining tougher sanctions on Russia—key demands from Kyiv as it braces against renewed aggression. With the NATO leaders also expected to endorse the 5% spending goal today, all eyes are on whether Trump will use the moment to reaffirm U.S. engagement, both in Ukraine’s defence and in the future of collective security.⸻
