Zelensky and Trump to Meet Wednesday on NATO Summit Sidelines, Confirms Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump are expected to meet on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague, a senior Ukrainian presidential official confirmed to AFP.

Despite being a central figure at recent international summits due to Russia’s ongoing invasion, Zelensky has not been invited to the NATO working session—reportedly due to lingering tensions between him and Trump.

Preparations for the bilateral meeting were discussed on Tuesday between Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“The United States reaffirmed its unwavering support for a ceasefire,” Yermak said in a post on X, also expressing frustration over the lack of progress in securing the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia.

According to the Ukrainian official, both delegations are finalizing the logistics, with the meeting scheduled for early Wednesday afternoon in the Netherlands.

The discussion is expected to center around Ukraine’s request for a new defense package—particularly air defense systems—as well as additional sanctions on Russia. The Ukrainian side will also press for a reduction in the current price cap on Russian oil, aiming to lower it from $60 to $45 per barrel to further restrict Moscow’s war financing.

Trump, however, has drawn criticism from Western allies for resisting new sanctions on Russia, even as President Vladimir Putin continues to reject calls for a ceasefire.