For the last few years since the start of the war, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky was treated like a king during NATO summits.
In the dark Joe Biden era, Zelensky was the new Winston Churchill, and he flew back to Kiev having raised billions in aid and enjoying a bit PR boost to his war effort.
But all that has changed with the arrival of US President Donald J. Trump, the ‘new sheriff in town’.
After he crashed and burned in the oval office meeting, Zelensky now struggles to find ways to meet Trump: a few days ago, the American President departed G7 meeting in Canada earlier and ditched his meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
But today (25), Zelensky has arrived in the Netherlands wearing a black suit, and finally got to meet the new center of the NATO galaxy.
In a group photo from the NATO summit in The Hague, Volodymyr Zelensky was placed further away from Donald Trump.
Why is zelensky on the photo in the first place? Ukraine is not a NATO member. pic.twitter.com/YEcHDayYFd
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 24, 2025
Watch: Zelensky arrives to NATO summit wearing a black suit.
Zelensky bends his knee and puts on a suit for Trump and co.
Zelensky appeared in a classic suit for the first time at the NATO summit pic.twitter.com/Pq2RV1VBLX
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) June 25, 2025
Reuters reported:
“U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday he will consider providing more of the Patriot missiles that Ukraine needs to defend against mounting Russian strikes, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin ‘really has to end that war’.
His remarks came after a 50-minute meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of a NATO summit in The Hague. Both leaders described it as a positive step in a conflict that Trump described as ‘more difficult than other wars’.
During a press conference in which he celebrated his own diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Trump said the Patriots were ‘very hard to get’ but that ‘we are going to see if we can make some of them available’.”
Note how, nowadays, Zelensky strives to display his gratitute in the strongest terms.
I had a good meeting with @POTUS in The Hague.
I congratulated President Trump on the successful operation in the Middle East. It is important that the U.S. actions have weakened not only their nuclear program but also their drone production capabilities. We will continue to… pic.twitter.com/pzoaBSn0Yi
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 25, 2025
“I had a good meeting with POTUS in The Hague. I congratulated President Trump on the successful operation in the Middle East. It is important that the U.S. actions have weakened not only their nuclear program but also their drone production capabilities. We will continue to keep an eye on the situation.
We discussed the protection of our people with the President — first and foremost, the purchase of American air defense systems to shield our cities, our people, churches, and infrastructure. Ukraine is ready to buy this equipment and support American weapons manufacturers. Europe can help. We also discussed the potential for co-production of drones. We can strengthen each other.
I also informed the President about how the technical team’s meetings in Istanbul went, as well as the exchanges of prisoners and the fallen. Russia handed over the bodies of its own troops. Forensic examinations are currently being carried out in Kyiv to identify their relatives.
We talked about the situation on the battlefield. Putin is definitely not winning. I presented the President with the facts about what is really happening on the ground.
Thank you for the meeting and your support. I’m also grateful for the truly kind words about our people. We will keep working.”
This year’s summit declaration made no mention of NATO membership for Ukraine.
Associated Press reported:
“’Europe stepping up to take more responsibility for security will help prevent future disasters like the horrible situation with Russia and Ukraine’, Trump said at the summit-ending news conference shortly after seeing Zelenskyy. ‘And hopefully we’re going to get that solved’.
Trump also reiterated his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine that began with Moscow’s invasion in February 2022. ‘He’d like to get out of this thing. It’s a mess for him’, Trump said. ‘He called the other day, and he said, ´Can I help you with Iran?´ I said, ´No, you can help me with Russia´’.
Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy was their first face-to-face session since April when they met at St. Peter’s Basilica during Pope Francis’ funeral. Trump also had a major confrontation with Zelenskyy earlier this year at the White House.
‘They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots’, Trump said. ‘And we’re going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and, they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing’.”
Reporter: You’ve just met with Zelensky. Did you discuss any ceasefire?
Trump: No, no, I wanted to know how he’s doing… I’m going to speak to Vladimir Putin and see if we can end it https://t.co/RKbm2jLCc4 pic.twitter.com/3fcAGb1hk6
— RT (@RT_com) June 25, 2025
Watch: Trump says he to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict ‘is more difficult’
Trump says he can’t end the Russia-Ukraine conflict ‘because it’s more difficult’
‘Putin has been more difficult’
‘Frankly, I had some problems with Zelensky… You may have read about them’ — Trump added https://t.co/ZbhLqjNhvB pic.twitter.com/SS3C91RTjc
— RT (@RT_com) June 25, 2025
Watch: Trump talks Patriot air-defense systems.
Trump speaks to woman who says her husband is fighting in Ukraine, while she lives in Warsaw with the kids
BBC Reporter: Is the US ready to sell Patriot systems to Ukraine?
Trump: We need them too, and we’ve been supplying them to Israel pic.twitter.com/CCSHfw23ke
— RT (@RT_com) June 25, 2025
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