Zelensky, Netanyahu Meet Trump Amid Wars
Zelensky and Netanyahu meet Trump as Ukraine and Iran wars continue.
The update
Ukrainian President Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held separate meetings with President Trump at the White House, described as “positive and productive.” Both leaders were in Washington to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Israel and advocate for US aid to Ukraine. Zelensky discussed Kyiv’s hope that the US would help bolster its air defences, while Netanyahu’s visit comes amid strained US-Israel ties over diverging views on Iran.
Why it matters
Ukraine is seeking Patriot air defence missiles to combat Russian aerial attacks, a system capable of intercepting ballistic missiles with flight ranges of up to 1,000km. Zelensky is expected to press Trump to grant Ukraine a licence to produce Patriot interceptor missiles. Netanyahu, for his part, faces domestic political pressures as he is up for reelection, while Trump is under pressure to end an unpopular war in Iran.
What to watch
Will Trump follow through on the potential missile production deals? How will Netanyahu’s deteriorating relationship with Trump and domestic challenges affect negotiations? Can Trump leverage these relationships to influence the ongoing conflicts?