“Ukraine made the most of what was possible at the NATO summit… Compared to other recent summits, the one in The Hague turned out to be quite positive and, frankly speaking, more positive than many could have expected even a few weeks ago.”

With these words, Alyona Getmanchuk, Director of the New Europe Center and newly appointed Head of the Mission of Ukraine to NATO, summarized the significance of the NATO summit in The Hague for Ukraine. The New Europe Center continues its systematic efforts to help Ukraine achieve the most effective security model—full membership in NATO. Ahead of the summit in The Hague, New Europe`s team prepared a range of analytical materials to highlight the importance of this year’s meeting of the Alliance for Ukraine.

Pre-summit materials by the New Europe Center included:

• Expert survey: “Restrained expectations from the next NATO summit. What should Ukraine prepare for?”. Leading analysts responded to the question: “What opportunities does the NATO summit in The Hague open up for Ukraine, despite restrained expectations?” as part of the traditional section “New Europe wonders…”.
• Analytical commentary for the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR): “Small change, big difference: how the NATO summit can still support Ukraine”. Leonid Litra, Senior Research Fellow at the New Europe Center, proposed that military aid to Ukraine be counted toward NATO member states’ new 5% GDP defense benchmark – a mechanism that could help maintain support despite political shifts within member countries.
• Analytical commentary: “The 5% Summit”. Alyona Getmanchuk noted that despite the summit’s unconventional and minimalist format, it have strategic value for both NATO and Ukraine – especially if it leads to increased defense support.
• Media commentary. In the article “NATO under Trump’s pressure: Can 5% defense spending save alliance and Ukraine’s aid” for RBC-Ukraine, Alyona Getmanchuk emphasized that the Hague summit cannot be judged by the criteria applied to previous NATO summits.
• Live interview. During the “Yedyni Novyny” telethon, Alyona Getmanchuk highlighted the importance of avoiding any rollback of previously adopted NATO decisions and ensuring continued support for Ukraine under the Alliance’s evolving defense priorities.
• Podcast Ukrainapodden. In new episode “NATO`s Power&Ukraine`s Future: A Summit Analysis” Leonid Litra spoke with Tormod Malvin Sæther offers a vital Ukrainian perspective on security and foreign policy, providing analysis of one of Ukraine’s most pressing needs: predictable and substantial financial support.

Post-summit materials by New Europe Center included:

• Summit report: “Substance over symbolism: NATO’s invisible but strategic shift”. Leonid Litra shared his reflections on the event in a video statement from The Hague.
• Analytical summary: “NATO Summit: What Does It Mean for Ukraine?” Alyona Getmanchuk emphasized that Ukraine was the only partner country explicitly mentioned in the NATO declaration. One of the most important outcomes for Ukraine was the commitment by member states to allocate 5% of their defense spending to support Ukraine.
• Media commentary. In the article “A Summit for “Daddy” Trump: What NATO Countries Agreed On and What It Means for Ukraine” for BBC Ukrainian Leonid Litra notes that defence assistance to Kyiv from Europe will no longer depend on elections in individual countries or domestic political dynamics. It will now be allocated almost on a technical level.

Learn more about New Europe Center’s efforts to advance Ukraine’s NATO integration: https://cutt.ly/3rRiKPEN