In brief
President Trump held closed‑door talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while attending the funeral of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham. Zelenskyy pressed for U.S. licenses to produce Patriot anti‑aircraft missiles, while Netanyahu sought cooperation to limit Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Both leaders praised the meeting, though Trump’s comments on social media were brief. The discussions came at a time of heightened sanctions against Russian oil and escalating tensions between the U.S. and Israel over Middle‑East policy.
President Donald Trump hosted separate closed‑door meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, DC. The meetings were described by the White House as "positive and productive," and came at the funeral of former U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham.
During the session with Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian leader urged the United States to authorize the production of Patriot anti‑aircraft missiles for Ukraine. Zelenskyy said "he accepted that he will give us licences," adding that co‑production could bolster Ukraine’s air defence during the ongoing war and improve domestic industrial capacity.
Netanyahu’s meeting focused heavily on the conflict in Iran. He noted that he and Trump shared a goal of preventing Iran from gaining nuclear weapons. Afterward, Netanyahu praised the conversation as "one of the best" he has had with the president.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the closed‑door meeting "went very well!" and that the discussions were "a very good meeting!" These comments were brief, but suggested a continuation of U.S. support for allies in the region.
U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and gas buyers were announced just before Zelenskyy’s meeting. The sanctions signal strong support for Ukraine and put economic pressure on Russia, while the U.S. also agreed to intercept Iranian-fired missiles that were testing the limits of its defense systems.
Patriot missiles, capable of intercepting ballistic rockets up to 1,000 km, remain a costly defense solution, with each launcher valued between $3 million and $5 million. Ukraine’s request for 25 Patriot batteries highlights the high stakes of the conflict.
