Trump Hosts Zelenskyy and Netanyahu for Security and Peace Talks

President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for separate closed-door meetings at the White House on July 28, 2026. The leaders visited Washington primarily to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the sessions as positive and productive.

Discussions with Zelenskyy focused on reviving diplomatic efforts to end the war with Russia, including a potential air ceasefire proposal. Zelenskyy sought U.S. licenses to produce Patriot interceptor missiles domestically and discussed technology exchanges with Lockheed Martin. He also alleged that Russia provided satellite imagery of U.S. military bases in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait to facilitate Iranian strikes. Trump downplayed the significance of these claims but stated he would question Russian President Vladimir Putin about the matter.

Meanwhile, the meeting with Netanyahu centered on the war with Iran and the expansion of the Abraham Accords. While both leaders shared the goal of preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, tensions persisted over Trump's pursuit of a ceasefire with Tehran and potential F-35 sales to Turkey. These diplomatic efforts occurred amid escalating violence, including Ukrainian strikes on Iranian-linked vessels in the Caspian Sea and continued Russian missile attacks in Ukraine.

Concurrent with the summit, the U.S. Senate prepared to vote on the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctions Act, which would impose tariffs on major importers of Russian energy to reduce funds for the war in Ukraine.