Trump to host Netanyahu, Zelenskiy as Ukraine, Iran wars reach critical stages

Trump to Meet Netanyahu and Zelenskiy as Conflicts in Ukraine and Iran Reach Key Points

By Steve Holland

WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Tuesday. The meetings occur as the conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine stand at significant stages, with Trump's relations with the two leaders differing in character.

Ties with Zelenskiy have improved as Ukrainian forces have slowed Russian advances. Netanyahu arrives at a time when the White House has expressed frustration over limited movement toward a wider agreement in the Iran conflict. Some of Trump's supporters have also voiced opposition to greater U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

The two leaders are traveling to Washington for a memorial service honoring Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican known for advocating stronger U.S. support for Ukraine.

Zelenskiy stated that anti-ballistic defense systems and strategic cooperation with the United States ranked as the top priority for his discussions with Trump and administration officials upon his arrival in Washington. "Peace needs to be brought closer," he wrote in a post on X.

Both the Ukraine conflict and the broader Middle East fighting have reached important moments. Following the end of a ceasefire in the Iran conflict, Trump stated he has halted U.S. airstrikes to allow further diplomatic efforts. Zelenskiy has noted recent Ukrainian gains on the battlefield.

No resolution appears imminent in either conflict.

Netanyahu Seeks Trump's Backing Ahead of Election

Netanyahu's relationship with Trump has varied. At times Trump has urged restraint on Israeli operations against targets in Lebanon aimed at Iran-backed Hezbollah.

Reports of an acrimonious June telephone conversation in which Trump used strong language toward Netanyahu first appeared in media accounts and were later confirmed by Trump. These accounts highlighted tensions between the two leaders.

Sources familiar with the discussions said Netanyahu seeks Trump's endorsement for his re-election bid before the October 27 vote. A joint appearance that highlights the longstanding ties between the two could provide political benefit to Netanyahu, who trails in opinion surveys at home.

"In these complex times, you need to act with both great determination and great wisdom," Netanyahu said in a video statement before departing for Washington. "We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, primarily Iran. Of course, our goal is to protect our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us."

A White House official indicated that Trump plans to address the Iran conflict and tensions between Israel and Lebanon. The official noted that Lebanon’s president met with Trump the previous week. The two sides will also review the Abraham Accords, the normalization agreements Trump facilitated between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan.

Trump Comments on Netanyahu

Trump wants to include Saudi Arabia in the accords. Last week he linked a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with Riyadh to its participation in the framework. Saudi officials have so far declined to join without a defined path to Palestinian statehood.

"Bibi's been great," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while traveling to Michigan on Monday, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname. "He was a wartime prime minister. We did very well together."

Zelenskiy and Trump experienced repeated disagreements during the early period of Trump’s second term. Relations have since improved as Ukraine recorded additional battlefield results, including expanded strikes on Russian oil facilities.

Zelenskiy is expected to hold a brief private session with Trump at the White House, likely without press present, according to a source familiar with the schedule.

A Ukrainian source said supplies of Patriot missile interceptors remain the highest priority. "We're experiencing strikes every day so we need Trump's and his team’s ‘okay' to let us buy missiles for Patriots," the source said. "It’s a top priority to save lives."

Zelenskiy is also expected to request additional air defense systems and completion of a drone procurement agreement. The leaders will likely review Trump’s earlier commitment at the NATO summit to authorize Ukrainian production of Patriot interceptors.

Zelenskiy spoke last week with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner regarding possible renewed negotiations with Russia. Ukrainian and U.S. officials may hold further talks in the United States in the coming days.

"With President Zelenskiy, President Trump will discuss the ongoing peace process between Russia and Ukraine," the White House official said. "Now is the time to end the war."

After the White House session, Zelenskiy is scheduled to meet with all 100 U.S. senators on Capitol Hill.

The visit follows a Pentagon letter to Congress stating that the Trump administration does not plan to complete expenditure of $400 million in authorized aid to Ukraine until fiscal year 2029, even though Kyiv faces shortages of weapons needed to counter Russian attacks.

Democrats and some Republican lawmakers have criticized the Pentagon for delaying disbursement of the assistance approved by Congress last year.

(Reporting By Steve Holland, additional reporting by Erin Banco, Andrea Shalal, Dan Flynn, Patricia Zengerle and Anna Pruchnicka; editing by Ross Colvin, Howard Goller, Caitlin Webber and Michael Perry)