‘Positive and productive’: Zelenskyy and Netanyahu meet Trump at White House to discuss wars

WASHINGTON —

President Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House today to discuss military and diplomatic support for their ongoing wars.

The White House described the meetings as “positive and productive,” though they were closed to the press, leaving few details about what transpired. Netanyahu’s meeting lasted nearly an hour and a half. The timing of the meetings is significant, as Trump seeks to shape the next steps in two major wars while both leaders look to the U.S. for assistance.

For Zelenskyy, air defense is a pressing concern as Russia continues missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy said he and Trump discussed licenses for Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors, as well as broader questions about restarting diplomacy with Russia to eventually end the war.

Netanyahu’s discussions centered on the war in Iran and its aftermath. Today marked the first face-to-face meeting between Netanyahu and Trump since the U.S. and Israel launched the war against Iran five months ago. The two leaders have shown growing differences over how to approach Iran, with Trump now pursuing negotiations with Tehran while Netanyahu has pushed to keep pressure on Iran and its nuclear program.

Ahead of the meeting, Trump publicly questioned Netanyahu’s focus on suspected Iranian nuclear activity at Pickaxe Mountain, saying he already knew what was happening there and suggesting Netanyahu wanted the U.S. to remain involved. Netanyahu had planned to share Israeli intelligence on Iran’s nuclear program. After the meeting, he called the talks “excellent” and said the two leaders shared the goal of ensuring Iran does not obtain nuclear weapons.

The two also planned to discuss the U.S.-Israel framework with Lebanon over the conflict with Hezbollah and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.

The stakes of the Iran conflict are being felt domestically, with disrupted oil shipments driving up gas prices. The Pentagon estimates the war has already cost more than $37 billion.

Both leaders are also in Washington to attend the funeral of Sen. Lindsey Graham later today. Graham was a strong supporter of both Israel and Ukraine.

Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet with all 100 senators at the Capitol this evening. The Senate is preparing to advance a new package of sanctions against Russia, one of Graham’s final legislative priorities. The sanctions aim to increase economic pressure on Moscow, particularly by targeting Russian energy revenue. Graham had met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv just one day before his death.

Iran’s government reported damage from recent U.S. strikes, including an inoperable airport, 12 damaged bridges, two tunnels, and a marine control tower. Iran said the tunnels have reopened, and alternate routes are being used around the damaged bridges. The U.S. stated the strikes were intended to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

Get more from the Washington Bureau below.