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Published Jun 17, 2026Updated Jun 181
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Zelensky Excluded from NATO Summit Plenary Session in Ankara
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that Ukrainian President Zelensky will not participate in the plenary session of the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8, though he will attend side meetings. The decision aims to keep the summit agenda concise and minimize potential conflicts with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Quick Facts
- Zelensky excluded from NATO summit plenary session
- Rutte announced the decision at a press conference
- No Ukraine-NATO Council heads-of-state meeting will be held
- Zelensky to attend side meetings and bilateral discussions
- Vladimir Zelensky
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced on June 17 that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will not participate in the plenary session of the NATO summit scheduled for July 7-8 in Ankara, Turkey. Rutte stated at a press conference ahead of a NATO defense ministers meeting that Zelensky would have "a program similar to what we had last year in the Hague," with many bilateral meetings but no participation in the main plenary session with all 32 allied leaders.
The exclusion from the plenary session represents a departure from previous years, as no Ukraine-NATO Council meeting at the heads-of-state level will take place in Ankara, unlike in 2023 and 2024. Rutte explicitly indicated that Zelensky will not be invited to address the summit's plenary session, even briefly.
According to sources at NATO headquarters in Brussels, the decision reflects an effort to keep the summit agenda as concise as possible. This streamlined approach is designed to minimize potential disagreements with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has previously expressed concerns about NATO spending and commitments. While Zelensky will be excluded from formal plenary proceedings, he is still expected to engage in side meetings and bilateral discussions during the summit.
Why This Matters
This decision signals shifting NATO dynamics amid U.S. political volatility under Trump's leadership. Zelensky's exclusion from the plenary—a symbolic and substantive loss of platform—reflects real concerns about internal alliance cohesion on Ukraine support. For readers tracking geopolitical risk and allied commitment to Ukraine, this move indicates NATO leadership is managing expectations and prioritizing consensus over symbolic gestures, a pragmatic but concerning retreat from previous years' openness.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 17, 2026
WireMark Rutte announces at press conference that Zelensky will be excluded from NATO summit plenary session
Jun 18, 2026
WireNATO defense ministers meeting scheduled
Jul 7, 2026
WireNATO summit in Ankara takes place; Zelensky participates in side meetings but not plenary session