US president Donald Trump is set to host Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Tuesday (local time) for separate high-stakes meetings as the wars in Ukraine and West Asia enter critical phases. The back-to-back talks are expected to focus on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Iran, regional security and broader diplomatic efforts, with Trump’s relationship with the two leaders taking sharply different trajectories in recent months.The meetings come as both leaders arrive to Washington to attend the funeral of late senator Lindsey Graham.According to CNN, Trump will first meet Zelenskyy before holding talks with Netanyahu later in the day. The White House has indicated that the discussions will centre on efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war, the conflict involving Iran, negotiations over Lebanon and the future of the Abraham Accords.Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday, Trump said Russia’s alleged assistance to Iran had little impact on the conflict. He dismissed Zelensky’s allegation that Russia was providing Iran with intelligence on US military bases.“I don’t think they’ve been doing it, certainly not at a high level,” Trump said. “And if they have, it has been very un-impactful.” He added that he intended to raise the matter directly with Russian president Vladimir Putin.The remarks came after Zelenskyy on Saturday alleged that Moscow had provided satellite intelligence to Iran that was later used in attacks targeting US military bases and Gulf facilities, while also revealing that Moscow is preparing to receive 30,000 North Korean troops to bolster its forces.“The purpose is clear,” Zelenskyy had said earlier this month. “None of us in the world should turn a blind eye to one very simple fact: Evil always seeks ways to make things worse and spread further.”According to Associated Press, Zelenskyy is expected to follow his White House meeting with visits to Capitol Hill, where he will meet US senators after Graham’s funeral at Washington National Cathedral.The visit comes as Republican lawmakers seek to advance Graham’s sanctions legislation targeting countries purchasing Russian oil and gas, alongside sanctions against President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian officials, financial institutions and energy projects.Trump and Zelenskyy last met on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Ankara earlier this month, where the US president announced that Washington would grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot air defence systems.Trump said at the time that he and Zelenskyy had “actually developed a good relationship”, adding that Ukraine would be able to produce the systems “pretty quickly”.Meanwhile, Netanyahu arrived in Washington for his eighth bilateral meeting with Trump since the US president began his second term.Before departing Israel, Netanyahu made clear that Iran would dominate the discussions.“We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost, Iran,” Netanyahu said in remarks posted on X.“Naturally, our goal is to safeguard our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us. I am embarking on this mission with one clear goal – to ensure the security, strength, and future of our dear State of Israel.”According to CNN, the leaders are also expected to discuss Lebanon, ongoing regional security concerns and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords.Both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy are expected to attend Graham’s funeral in Washington following their White House meetings, underscoring the late senator’s longstanding influence on US foreign policy, particularly on Ukraine, Israel and sanctions against Russia.
