Ukrainian President Volodímir Zelenski is set to address the NATO summit in Madrid, scheduled for June 29 and 30, through a video conference. This arrangement was confirmed by Ihor Zhovkva, who serves as a deputy to the Ukrainian president in the administration’s leadership team.
According to Zhovkva, Zelenski was invited to participate via remote link and will deliver remarks during the opening session, which will bring together thirty heads of state and allied leaders. The Ukrainian side views this opportunity as a high priority for conveying Ukraine’s perspectives directly to NATO members and partner nations. The open session will mark the formal start of discussions that are expected to shape the alliance for the coming decade.
Observers anticipate that the Madrid gathering will focus on strategic defense planning and the broader role of NATO in responding to evolving security challenges. The talks are expected to influence a new strategic concept that will guide Alliance actions over the next ten years, including deterrence measures, crisis management, and transatlantic defense commitments.
As part of the agenda, the final declaration of the summit is anticipated to reflect the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the impact of Russia’s aggression that began on February 24. The leadership of Ukraine is keen to ensure that the situation remains a central concern in the document, underscoring Ukraine’s resilience and the allied response to aggression.
Madrid is preparing for a large-scale gathering, with participation from dozens of world leaders and a substantial presence of national delegations from member states and invited partners. The summit is framed as a pivotal moment for setting the course of the alliance amid ongoing security challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and broader regional tensions.
In parallel developments, Zhovkva noted that Zelenskiy is also expected to participate in the Group of Seven summit in the following week. This sequence of engagements highlights Ukraine’s ongoing diplomatic outreach to Western partners and its effort to secure coordinated support for sovereignty, defense, and humanitarian relief as the war continues.