Trump meets Netanyahu, Zelenskyy in separate closed-door talks at White House

Donald Trump paused US military strikes on Iran to give diplomacy another chance after the collapse of a ceasefire, while Ukraine is seeking fresh military support to defend itself against an intensifying Russian missile campaign. Both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy arrived in Washington hoping to shape Trump's next moves.

In Short

• White House said both closed-door meetings ended on a positive note
• Discussions focused on Israel-Iran conflict and Russia-Ukraine war
• Netanyahu sought backing on Iran, Lebanon tensions and Abraham Accords expansion

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday held separate closed-door meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the White House. The talks came as Washington seeks to navigate two major global crises -- the Israel-Iran conflict in the Middle East and Russia's war in Ukraine.

The back-to-back meetings came at a pivotal moment for both wars. While Trump has paused US military strikes on Iran to give diplomacy another chance after the collapse of a ceasefire, Ukraine is seeking fresh military support to defend itself against an intensifying Russian missile campaign. Both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy arrived in Washington hoping to shape Trump's next moves.

Since the meetings were held behind closed doors, no official readout has been released. However, the White House said both discussions concluded on a "positive and productive" note.

"Positive and productive," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt wrote on X, without disclosing further details.

The three leaders also attended the funeral of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Washington's strongest advocates for both Israel and Ukraine, who died earlier this month.

TWO WARS, TWO VERY DIFFERENT EQUATIONS

Although Trump welcomed both leaders on the same day, his equations with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy have taken markedly different paths in recent months.

Relations between Trump and the Ukrainian President, once strained after a series of disagreements, have improved as Kyiv slowed Russia's battlefield advances and stepped up attacks on Russian military infrastructure. At the same time, Trump's ties with Netanyahu have come under increasing pressure over the direction of Israel's campaign against Iran and concerns within the White House about the risk of deeper US involvement in the Middle East.

The strain became evident even before Netanyahu arrived at the White House.

Speaking to Fox News ahead of the meeting, Trump expressed irritation over reports that the Israeli Prime Minister intended to brief him on intelligence related to Iran's underground Pickaxe Mountain nuclear facility.

"I don't need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi's telling me that because he wants me to stay involved," Trump said.

"Why don't you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?"

His commented after a report claimed that Netanyahu planned to present intelligence suggesting Iran was rebuilding nuclear infrastructure at the heavily fortified site while misleading negotiators about its willingness to pursue peace.

Despite the sharp comments, photographs released by Netanyahu's office later showed the two leaders smiling together in the Oval Office alongside Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

NETANYAHU LOOKS TO SECURE TRUMP'S SUPPORT

For Netanyahu, the Washington visit carried significance beyond the immediate security discussions. With Israel's conflict with Iran entering a new dangerous phase and his government facing mounting criticism at home, the Israeli leader is expected to secure Trump's support ahead of Israel's October elections.

Before departing for Washington, Netanyahu made clear that Iran would dominate his discussions.

"In these complex times, you need to act with both great determination and great wisdom. We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, primarily Iran," he said.

"Of course, our goal is to protect our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us."

According to US officials, the leaders were also expected to discuss tensions along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, efforts to weaken Hezbollah and the future of the Abraham Accords. Trump has been attempting to expand the landmark normalisation agreements brokered during his first term by bringing Saudi Arabia into the framework. However, Riyadh has maintained that any such move would require a credible pathway towards Palestinian statehood.

ZELENSKYY PRESSES FOR AIR DEFENCE SUPPORT

While Netanyahu's agenda centred on regional security and diplomacy, Zelenskyy's focus remained firmly on Ukraine's battlefield needs. Following his meeting with Trump, the Ukrainian President described the talks as constructive and said discussions had centred on strengthening Ukraine's air defence capabilities.

"Good meeting," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

He said the two leaders discussed licences for Patriot interceptor missiles, which Kyiv considers crucial as Russia continues launching ballistic missile attacks across Ukrainian cities. The Patriot system has become one of Ukraine's most valuable defensive assets, intercepting advanced Russian missiles that conventional air defences struggle to stop.

Beyond air defence, the two sides also discussed expanding cooperation on drone production and the broader peace process with Russia. Zelenskyy has been pushing for faster implementation of agreements reached during recent NATO discussions, including plans allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot interceptors under licence.

The Ukrainian leader later travelled to Capitol Hill, where he was scheduled to meet US senators as lawmakers continue debating future military assistance for Kyiv amid concerns over delays in delivering previously approved aid.

The meetings unfolded alongside ceremonies honouring Senator Lindsey Graham, whose death earlier this month marked the loss of one of Washington's most influential leaders of foreign policy.

A close Trump ally despite their once-bitter political rivalry, Graham consistently advocated robust American support for both Israel and Ukraine. He visited Kyiv multiple times after Russia's invasion and remained a vocal supporter of Israel's military campaigns in the Middle East.

- Ends
With inputs from agencies