King Filip to Host President Zelensky at Royal Palace

Belgian King Filip will host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a lunch at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Thursday, 18 June 2026, the Palace announced on Wednesday. The meeting comes on the sidelines of the European Council summit and underscores Belgium’s continued solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia.

According to De Morgen, the announcement was made by the King’s entourage via a press release. “His Majesty the King will receive His Excellency Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, on 18 June for a lunch at the Royal Palace in Brussels,” the statement read.

Context and Background

Following the lunch, President Zelensky will join EU leaders at the European Council summit taking place on 18–19 June in Brussels. The summit agenda includes discussions on Ukraine, European defense, and EU enlargement. Zelensky is expected to deliver a speech on the latest developments in the war and address Ukraine’s potential accession to the European Union.

As The Brussels Times reported, the meeting marks the latest in a series of engagements between the Belgian monarch and the Ukrainian president since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. They previously met in Brussels in 2023 and again on 6 March 2025, ahead of an emergency EU summit.

Diplomatic Significance

Royal audiences for foreign leaders carry significant diplomatic weight in Belgium. King Filip has been a consistent voice of support for Ukraine, referencing the war in his annual Christmas speeches and maintaining visible solidarity with the Ukrainian cause.

During their previous meeting in March 2025, King Filip told Zelensky, according to Ditjes & Datjes: “We in Belgium are very impressed by the way you conduct the talks, the dignity you have shown in recent days, and the way you seek a peaceful solution with guarantees for your country. Together with our European colleagues, we will help you.” He added, “Belgium stands by your side.”

As Royal Central noted, King Filip is not the only European monarch to have hosted Zelensky. King Charles III received him at Sandringham in March 2025, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has also held meetings with the Ukrainian president.

G7 Momentum

Zelensky’s visit to Brussels follows the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, on 15–16 June, where G7 leaders agreed to increase pressure on Russia with stricter sanctions on the oil and gas sector. Ukraine was also promised long-range weapons and air defense systems. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the talks as offering “perhaps the first chance for peace,” while Canada announced new sanctions against 162 individuals, entities, and ships linked to Russia’s war effort.

Belgium’s Role in Supporting Ukraine

Belgium has been a steadfast ally of Ukraine since the invasion began. The country has pledged approximately €1 billion annually in military aid, including the delivery of 30 F-16 fighter jets, with deliveries expected by 2028. Belgium also plays a unique role through Euroclear, the financial institution holding frozen Russian assets, with taxes on those assets helping to fund EU military aid to Ukraine.

What to Watch For

The meeting between King Filip and President Zelensky is expected to reinforce European unity on Ukraine at a critical juncture. Key questions remain: whether specific new military aid for Ukraine will be announced during the visit, what progress will be made on Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations at the European Council summit, and how the meeting will be received in the context of Belgium’s domestic politics.

As the Belgian Royal Palace confirmed for their previous meeting, the audience at the Royal Palace serves as a powerful symbol of Belgium’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and the broader European effort to support the country against Russian aggression.