President Donald Trump engaged in discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. The meetings, held separately, were part of the leaders’ attendance at the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. Senator Graham had previously served as a mediator between Zelensky, Netanyahu, and the Trump administration.
The meetings were private, with no press coverage. Following the discussions, Zelensky expressed gratitude to Trump for the support provided by the Republican administration in the ongoing conflict with Russia, which began over four years ago with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt described both the Zelensky and Netanyahu meetings as constructive and beneficial.
During the meeting with Zelensky, Trump welcomed the Ukrainian leader to the White House in recognition of Senator Graham’s efforts to strengthen ties with Ukraine, including securing sanctions agreements against countries purchasing Russian oil and gas. Trump praised Senator Graham’s unwavering support for Ukraine, noting his stance on the need for a deal with Iran but no similar resolution for the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Prior to the meeting, Zelensky raised concerns about Russia’s support for Iran in the ongoing conflict, citing captured satellite imagery of US bases in the Gulf region that later appeared in Iran. Zelensky emphasized the importance of global vigilance against escalating threats, stating that evil forces always seek to exacerbate situations and expand their influence.