Trump hosts Zelenskiy, Netanyahu as Ukraine, Iran wars reach critical stages

U.S. President Donald Trump hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday, with wars in Iran and Ukraine at critical stages and his ties with both leaders markedly changed.

Relations with Zelenskiy have warmed as Ukraine has blunted Russian advances, while Netanyahu arrives amid growing White House frustration over the lack of progress toward a broader settlement in the Iran conflict and criticism from some of Trump's supporters who oppose ‌deeper U.S. involvement in ⁠the Middle East.

The ⁠two men are in Washington to attend a memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham, a hawkish Republican who was an advocate for both Israel and Ukraine in Washington, especially in getting their views heard by Trump.


Trump greeted Zelenskiy at the White House. Arriving in Washington earlier, the Ukrainian leader said anti-ballistic defense and strategic cooperation with the U.S. were the "number-one priority" for meetings with Trump and his team.

"Peace needs to be brought closer," Zelenskiy said in a post on X.

Both the Ukraine war and the widening Middle East conflict are at critical junctures. After the collapse of a ceasefire in the Iran war, Trump says he has paused U.S. airstrikes to give diplomacy another chance. Zelenskiy, meanwhile, has been buoyed by Ukraine's recent successes.

Still, there is no end in sight for either ⁠conflict.

AIR DEFENSE ‌AND DRONE DEAL

Zelenskiy and Trump clashed repeatedly in the early months of Trump's second term, but relations between the two have improved in recent months as Ukraine has had greater success in the war, including with increased attacks on Russia's oil industry.

Zelenskiy is expected to press ⁠Trump for urgently needed air defense capabilities and completing a drone deal with the United States. The two leaders will also likely discuss Trump's promise at the NATO summit to grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot interceptors.

Zelenskiy spoke last week with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about the prospects for renewed peace talks with Russia and said that Ukrainian and U.S. officials could meet in the United States in the coming days.

After the White House meeting, Zelenskiy is expected to go to the U.S. Capitol for a meeting with all 100 senators.

NETANYAHU SEEKS TRUMP'S SUPPORT FOR REELECTION

Netanyahu has run hot and cold with Trump, who at times has had to rein in the Israeli leader from attacking targets in Lebanon to try to weaken Iran-backed Hezbollah militants.

An acrimonious phone call in June in which the president called the ‌prime minister "fucking crazy", first leaked to the media and later publicly confirmed by Trump himself, laid bare the strains between the two leaders.

Sources familiar with the matter said Netanyahu aims to get Trump's support for his re-election campaign ahead of an October 27 vote.

A meeting with Trump that showcases what has traditionally been a close ⁠relationship between the two leaders could help Netanyahu at home where he is struggling in the opinion polls.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump was asked about reports that Netanyahu plans to talk to him about work happening at a site linked to Iran's nuclear program known as Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified facility buried deep underground near one of Tehran's main nuclear sites.

"I don't need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi's telling me that because he wants me to stay involved," Trump said in an interview with "Fox and Friends."

They are also expected to discuss the Abraham Accords, the series of agreements Trump brokered to normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Trump wants to add Saudi Arabia to the accords and conditioned a civilian nuclear cooperation deal with the kingdom last week on Riyadh signing up. Riyadh has so far rejected joining the accords without a path toward Palestinian statehood.