Zelenskyy and Netanyahu Guests of Trump: Talks on Ukraine War and Iran Conflict on the Day of Graham's Memorial Service

According to the Office of the Israeli Prime Minister, those participating in the meeting with Netanyahu included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Vice President J. D. Vance. US and Ukrainian cabinet members were also present at the talks with Zelenskyy.

The occasion for both leaders' trips was the memorial service for Lindsey Graham, who died on July 11 at the age of 71 from heart disease. Graham was considered one of the most important supporters of Ukraine and Israel in the US Congress and had in recent months been particularly vocal in advocating a new sanctions package against Russia.

Occasion: Memorial Service for Senator Lindsey Graham

Zelenskyy offered the president his condolences. On the platform X, he wrote: «A good meeting with President Trump @POTUS at the Oval Office. Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace. First and foremost, I offered President Trump our condolences on the passing of Lindsey Graham. He was a true friend of…»

The Ukrainian president also published photos from the Oval Office and described the meeting as a «good meeting with President Donald J. Trump in the Oval Office.» He said he was grateful to the United States for their «firm support.» Trump had thanked him «for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace.»

In terms of substance, the talks focused according to Zelenskyy primarily on strengthening Ukrainian air defense against Russian missile attacks. «The President and I discussed licenses for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles and other things that can help,» the Ukrainian wrote on X. A Trump spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, stated that «Both meetings went positively and productively!»

Topics with Zelenskyy: Air Defense and Patriot License

Trump had previously announced that he would grant Ukraine a license to produce Patriot missiles. However, building up production capacities in Ukraine would take months, and output volumes would hardly cover the need against Russian missile attacks, according to reports. Just in mid-July, Zelenskyy had cited a minimum requirement of 300 Patriot interceptor missiles for the three winter months.

A revival of diplomatic efforts to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine was also on the agenda. The US sees itself as a mediator in the conflict; its efforts to end the war have recently also been pushed into the background as a result of its own war against Iran, according to dpa.

Topics with Netanyahu: Iran and Intelligence Findings

The meeting with Netanyahu was the first in-person conversation between Trump and the Israeli head of government since the start of the Iran war at the end of February. At that time, the US and Israel had jointly entered the conflict with the Islamic Republic. According to Israeli sources, the talks in the Oval Office focused primarily on Iran.

At the start of his US trip, Netanyahu had made clear: «The most important topic at the meeting with Trump will be Iran.» The Israeli television channel N12 reported that Netanyahu wanted to present intelligence findings on alleged Iranian efforts to rebuild military capabilities, including those by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei toward an atomic weapon.

The «New York Post» cited an Israeli source according to which Netanyahu wanted to brief Trump on nuclear activities at the «Pickaxe Mountain» site in central Iran. Tehran has been denying such reports for years.

However, Trump had already announced in an interview with Fox News that he prefers a diplomatic solution with Iran over heavier strikes. Speaking to reporters regarding Netanyahu, he said: «Nun, ich brauche Bibi nicht, um mir das zu sagen. Bibi erzählt mir das, weil er möchte, dass ich weiterhin involviert bleibe.» According to media reports, Trump had also screamed at Netanyahu on the phone and called him «crazy.»

Tensions Between Washington and Jerusalem

There have been tensions between the two allies for some time. While Israel wants to continue the war against Iran, Trump is pushing for a diplomatic solution. In addition, Vice President J. D. Vance had recently sharply criticized Israel, and Trump recently concluded what appeared to be a unilateral agreement with Iran as well as a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia. Middle East expert Bauke Baumann said the relationship between the US and Israel is damaged, that there is a «break that harms Israel.»

Ahead of a watershed election in Israel in October, it is crucial for Netanyahu to present a united front with Trump. According to the assessment of the «Times of Israel,» however, it is likely to be a major challenge to convince Trump to abandon a stalled diplomatic process in favor of a new large-scale military campaign.

The picture of the relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy is also complex. As recently as February 2025, Trump had loudly confronted his Ukrainian counterpart in the Oval Office in front of cameras with fierce accusations, including charging that he was fighting a hopeless battle and risking World War Three. After that meeting, Trump had temporarily suspended military aid to Ukraine and the exchange of intelligence information.

Strained Relationship: From the February Outburst to the Vatican Conversation

According to Zelenskyy, however, a brief conversation at the Vatican in April 2025 marked a turning point. Cooperation has since improved again; Trump and Zelenskyy last met earlier this month at the NATO summit in Ankara and in mid-June at the G7 summit in Évian, France. In Ankara, Trump also emphasized that he has a good relationship with his Ukrainian counterpart.

Sanctions Package Against Russia in the Senate

In addition to the memorial services in Washington, the Russia sanctions package—long stalled in the Senate—was also on the political agenda on Tuesday. A bipartisan group of senators agreed on a new bill that would authorize Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the five largest buyers of Russian crude oil and natural gas. The draft also targets countries that help Russia circumvent energy sanctions and includes an extension of sanctions against Iran.

Some Democrats are criticizing the bill because Trump would receive new powers to impose tariffs. Nevertheless, a majority in the Senate is considered likely. Following Graham's death, several senators are trying to bring their late colleague's central concern to a conclusion. After an initial vote on Tuesday, the Senate could still reconcile the bill this week; however, the House of Representatives does not reconvene until September, so the law could not take effect until then at the earliest.

In line with Graham's work, the sanctions package is to bear his name according to recently published amendments. Trump has already announced he will sign the bill. The Senate will also face further pressure in the coming weeks: After the church service at the National Cathedral and the memorial ceremony at the Capitol, where Graham's coffin lay in state, all 100 senators were invited to a meeting with Zelenskyy in the evening (US East Coast time), according to the US portal «The Hill.»

The global economic situation is also a background factor in the sanctions debate. China and India, important buyers of Russian oil, are warning of further burdens in trade with the US because of the bill. Trump had previously already imposed a temporary 25 percent tariff on goods from India due to its Russian oil purchases. The US government has also, in recent months, temporarily suspended sanctions on Russian oil deliveries in order to counter price increases on the world market following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the Iran war.