Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be angling for President Donald Trump’s ear as both wartime leaders are set to meet with Trump at the White House Tuesday amid global conflict in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy and Netanyahu are expected to meet with Trump in addition to attending the funeral of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died suddenly earlier this month.
Their expected meetings with Trump give both leaders a chance to push their agendas with the president at a time when U.S. policy toward Iran and the Russia-Ukraine war continues to be in flux.
Graham was a staunch supporter of Israel and was highly critical of Iran. He also met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv the day before his death and had been in the process of advancing a Senate bill to strengthen sanctions on Russia.
Netanyahu faces a delicate balancing act
Netanyahu last came to Washington to meet with Trump in February, days before the U.S. entered into a months-long conflict with Iran. Tuesday officially marks five months of the war.
During the Tuesday meeting, Netanyahu plans to discuss Israel’s security and strength with Trump, he wrote in an X post on Monday.
“Our goal is clear: to safeguard Israel’s security, strengthen its power, and expand the circle of peace around us,” he said in his post. He also wrote that he will pay his respects to Graham during his visit, who he described as a “true friend.”
Trump and Netanyahu had been in lockstep since Trump began his second term, but in recent weeks tensions between the two had considerably risen, with Trump calling the Israeli leader “crazy” and declaring: “Without me, there would be no Israel.”
Netanyahu was believed to have not been consulted on the U.S.’ memorandum of understanding struck with Iran that instituted a 60-day ceasefire during which Iran would reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Israeli and U.S. officials confirmed to ABC News.
Israeli officials had also expressed consternation over the Trump administration’s plans to sign a nuclear energy deal with Saudi Arabia and a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey.
“Nobody tells me what we should be selling,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, referring to Netanyahu’s concerns.
When asked by reporters on Monday why he is meeting with Netanyahu and if they are aligned on the Iran war, Trump said, “We have a little difference, but pretty close.”
Zelenskyy seeks end to Russia’s incursion
Zelenskyy and Trump last met on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, earlier this month and the two are expected to meet Tuesday to continue discussions on finding a pathway to ending the multiyear war with Russia.
In recent weeks, Zelenskyy has called for diplomatic efforts to ensure Kyiv can secure weapons and missiles more quickly amid a shortage that has left it exposed to Russian attacks.
During the Turkey summit, Trump announced that the U.S. would grant Ukraine a license to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors in a boost to Ukraine, which has long sought permission to produce the defensive weapons.
Discussions on Ukraine’s dwindling weapons stockpile comes as sources confirmed to ABC News that top national security officials discussed the impact a major escalation in the U.S. and Iran conflict could have on the Pentagon’s depleting stockpiles of air defense interceptors, including Patriots.
Netanyahu and Zelenskyy to push their agendas at White House meetings with Trump
