Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will probably be angling for President Donald Trump’s ear as each wartime leaders are set to satisfy with Trump on the White Home Tuesday amid world battle within the Middle East and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy and Netanyahu are anticipated to satisfy with Trump along with attending the funeral of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly earlier this month.
President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Mar-a-Lago membership, Dec. 29, 2025, in Palm Seashore, Fla.
Joe Raedle/Getty Photographs
Their anticipated conferences with Trump give each leaders an opportunity to push their agendas with the president at a time when U.S. coverage in the direction of Iran and the Russia-Ukraine struggle continues to be in flux.
Graham was a staunch supporter of Israel and was extremely essential of Iran. He additionally met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv the day earlier than his demise and had been within the means of advancing a Senate invoice to strengthen sanctions on Russia.
Netanyahu faces a fragile balancing act
Netanyahu final got here to Washington to satisfy with Trump in February, days earlier than the U.S. entered right into a months-long battle with Iran. Tuesday formally marks 5 months of the struggle.
Throughout the Tuesday assembly, Netanyahu plans to debate Israel’s safety and power with Trump, he wrote in an X submit on Monday.
“Our objective is obvious: to safeguard Israel’s safety, strengthen its energy, and develop the circle of peace round us,” he mentioned in his submit. He additionally wrote that he pays his respects to Graham throughout his go to, who he described as a “true good friend.”
Trump and Netanyahu had been in lockstep since Trump started his second time period, however in latest weeks tensions between the 2 had significantly risen, with Trump calling the Israeli leader “crazy” and declaring: “With out me, there could be no Israel.”
Netanyahu was believed to haven’t been consulted on the U.S.’ memorandum of understanding struck with Iran that instituted a 60-day ceasefire throughout which Iran would reopen the strategically very important Strait of Hormuz, Israeli and U.S. officers confirmed to ABC Information. .
Israeli officers had additionally expressed consternation over the Trump administration’s plans to signal a nuclear energy deal with Saudi Arabia and a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
“No person tells me what we needs to be promoting,” Trump advised reporters aboard Air Pressure One on Monday, referring to Netanyahu’s issues.
When requested by reporters on Monday why he’s assembly with Netanyahu and if they’re aligned on the Iran struggle, Trump mentioned, “Now we have somewhat distinction, however fairly shut.”
President Donald Trump meets with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine for bilateral talks at Bestepe Presidential Compound in the course of the NATO Summit, July 8, 2026, in Ankara, Turkey.
Win Mcnamee/Getty Photographs
Zelenskyy seeks finish to Russia’s incursion
Zelenskyy and Trump final met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, earlier this month and the 2 are anticipated to satisfy Tuesday to proceed discussions on discovering a pathway to ending the multiyear struggle with Russia.
In latest weeks, Zelenskyy has known as for diplomatic efforts to guarantee Kyiv can safe weapons and missiles extra rapidly amid a scarcity that has left it uncovered to Russian assaults.
Throughout the Turkey summit, Trump introduced that the U.S. would grant Ukraine a license to fabricate Patriot missile interceptors in a lift to Ukraine, which has lengthy sought permission to supply the defensive weapons.
Discussions on Ukraine’s dwindling weapons stockpile comes as sources confirmed to ABC Information that high nationwide safety officers mentioned the impression a significant escalation within the U.S. and Iran battle might have on the Pentagon’s depleting stockpiles of air protection interceptors, together with Patriots.
Trump rejected stories that the U.S. army is dealing with shortages of missile interceptors and blamed the earlier Biden administration for sending giant quantities of weapons to Ukraine.
Requested about stories that U.S. shares of sure munitions had declined, Trump mentioned the nation has “numerous ammunition, differing types.”
“Biden gave lots to Ukraine, and so we’re constructing that up. However we’ve got lots. Now we have numerous the mid-level stuff too. I imply, greater than we might ever use,” Trump advised reporters on Air Pressure One on Monday.
“I would wish to have extra, to be trustworthy. However a lot was given to Ukraine by Biden,” he added.
The struggle entered a brand new part over the weekend with Zelenskyy saying his nation’s forces struck targets within the Caspian Sea “together with vessels utilized in army cargo shipments involving Iran” and a Russian warship.
Iran’s International Minister Abbas Araghchi mentioned the lethal assault “can not go unanswered,” calling it a violation of the United Nations constitution.
Zelenskyy accused Russia of serving to Iran goal U.S. army bases within the Center East by satellite tv for pc surveillance. Trump mentioned he would ask Russian President Vladimir Putin straight concerning the allegations.
“I am going to ask Putin about it. We’ll discover out,” Trump advised reporters Monday, whereas insisting any such help “hasn’t had a lot impression as a result of we have knocked the hell out of” Iran.
Zelenskyy mentioned that for the reason that starting of July, Ukraine had recorded Russian satellite tv for pc surveillance of Arab Gulf allies and U.S. army amenities within the area.
He alleged that “there’s a clear correlation between Russia’s satellite tv for pc imagery of those websites and Iranian strikes — each earlier than the assaults, in preparation for them, and afterward, to evaluate the injury inflicted.”
The White Home didn’t reply to questions on Ukraine’s allegations or whether or not they had obtained the Ukrainian intelligence Zelenskyy cited.
Trump insisted Friday that he trusted that Putin and Chinese language President Xi Jinping weren’t serving to Iran in any “main” method.
Throughout Trump’s first time period, he dismissed issues raised by U.S. intelligence officers who had concluded the Kremlin’s army intelligence unit supplied to pay Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan to kill American troops and different coalition forces there.
Trump on the time acknowledged that he didn’t elevate stories of Russian bounties on American troops throughout his communications with Putin and known as the issues a “media fabrication” and a “hoax.”
Pentagon officers later concluded that U.S. army intelligence was unable to definitively corroborate the claims.
