- Zelenskyy and Netanyahu meet Trump in Washington as wars in Ukraine and Iran continue to escalate.
- Zelenskyy described the meeting as a 'good meeting' focused on Patriot air defenses.
- Zelenskyy arrived in Washington in the ascendant, as his country is now a world leader in drone warfare.
- The Ukrainian's immediate aim is modest: for Trump to honour Senator Graham by backing a Russia sanctions bill he was pushing at the time of his death.
- Netanyahu may be out of favour in the current White House, but the US is committed to Israel's defence in a manner and on a scale of which Ukraine can only dream.
- Zelenskyy’s recent ascent may mirror Netanyahu’s simultaneous decline, but that does not mean they came to Washington with comparable status.
- An poll found that nearly half of Americans thought that Netanyahu should be arrested on arrival for war crimes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with former President Donald Trump at the White House on July 28, discussing modest aims amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Iran. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for U.S. support, stating, "Thank you for everything we do together to protect the lives of Ukrainians and advance peace."2
The meeting focused on military cooperation, including licenses for Patriot air-defense interceptors and a push for a Russia sanctions bill in honor of the late Senator Graham. Zelenskyy emphasized the need to reinvigorate diplomatic efforts, saying, "We also spoke about diplomacy – it's important that the diplomatic process be reinvigorated."5
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt characterized the discussions as "positive and productive," reflecting a warming relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump since the latter's second term began. Trump praised Zelenskyy for his leadership, stating he was doing "an amazing job" and offered Kyiv licenses to manufacture Patriot missiles.
Zelenskyy also met with representatives from Lockheed Martin to discuss further cooperation, highlighting Ukraine's growing military capabilities in drone warfare. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived shortly after Zelenskyy, discussing shared goals regarding Iran's nuclear ambitions, indicating the complex geopolitical landscape both leaders navigate in their respective conflicts.6
“Zelenskyy's immediate aim is for Trump to honor Senator Graham by backing a Russia sanctions bill he was advocating before his death. Meanwhile, Netanyahu faces declining favor in the White House, contrasting with the U.S. commitment to Israel's defense, which Ukraine can only dream of.”
The Guardian
Le Monde.fr
