US President Donald Trump is set to hold separate meetings on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as the wars in Iran and Ukraine enter a critical phase, placing diplomacy and regional security at the centre of discussions.
The visits come as Washington’s relationships with the two leaders continue to evolve. While ties between Trump and Zelenskiy have strengthened as Ukraine has slowed Russian advances, Netanyahu arrives amid growing White House frustration over the lack of progress towards a broader settlement in the Iran conflict and criticism from some of Trump’s supporters over continued US involvement in the Middle East.
Both leaders are also in Washington to attend a memorial service honouring Senator Lindsey Graham, the influential Republican lawmaker who was one of Trump’s closest allies and a vocal advocate for stronger US support for Ukraine.
Upon arriving in the US capital, Zelenskiy said strengthening Ukraine’s air defence capabilities and expanding strategic cooperation with the United States would be the top priority during his meetings with Trump and senior administration officials.
In a message posted on X, the Ukrainian president said every effort must be made to bring peace closer, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation between Kyiv and Washington.
The meetings come against the backdrop of mounting tensions in both regions. In the Middle East, the collapse of a ceasefire has renewed hostilities involving Iran, although Trump has said he has temporarily paused US airstrikes to allow diplomacy another opportunity. In Eastern Europe, Ukraine has slowed Russian advances, but the war remains far from over.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, neither conflict appears close to a lasting resolution.
Relations between Trump and Netanyahu have fluctuated in recent months, particularly over Israel’s military operations and Washington’s broader regional strategy. Reports of a heated exchange between the two leaders earlier this year highlighted disagreements over the handling of the conflict and wider security concerns.
Ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, Netanyahu is also expected to seek Trump’s political support, with a high-profile White House meeting likely to reinforce the longstanding relationship between the two leaders as he faces mounting political pressure at home.
Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu said discussions would focus primarily on Iran while also addressing broader regional security challenges and efforts to expand peace agreements across the Middle East.
A White House official said Trump and Netanyahu would also discuss tensions between Israel and Lebanon, as well as efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab nations during Trump’s first administration.
The Trump administration continues to push for Saudi Arabia to join the accords, although Riyadh has maintained that any normalisation with Israel must be accompanied by meaningful progress towards the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump praised Netanyahu’s leadership during wartime and expressed confidence in their continued cooperation on regional security matters.
Meanwhile, Trump is expected to hold a separate private meeting with Zelenskiy at the White House, where discussions will focus on strengthening Ukraine’s air defences, securing additional Patriot missile interceptors and expanding military cooperation.
Ukrainian officials are also expected to discuss plans to advance a drone partnership with the United States and finalise an agreement that would allow Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptor missiles under licence.
The White House said Trump and Zelenskiy would also review ongoing efforts to achieve a negotiated end to the war with Russia following recent diplomatic engagements between Ukrainian officials and senior US envoys.
After meeting Trump, Zelenskiy is expected to visit the US Capitol for talks with members of the Senate.
His visit comes as lawmakers continue to debate delays in releasing previously approved military assistance to Ukraine, with members of both major political parties expressing concern that critical defence funding has yet to reach Kyiv as it faces mounting shortages of weapons needed to defend against continued Russian missile attacks.
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