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Zelensky meets Trump at White House with Netanyahu due there later
BBC • • nation
Key Points:
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are meeting with former President Donald Trump at the White House in closed sessions, with no press allowed inside.
- Zelensky and Trump have had a tumultuous relationship since 2025, ranging from hostile confrontations to more positive engagements, with recent talks focusing on Ukraine's defense needs and peace negotiations.
- A key topic for Zelensky is securing a US license to produce Patriot missile defense systems domestically, a significant but complex step toward enhancing Ukraine's protection against Russian missile attacks.
- Both leaders are also in Washington to attend the funeral of Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch supporter of Ukraine and Israel, whose death marks a potential shift in US support dynamics for both conflicts.
- Despite ongoing war and stalled peace talks, Zelensky aims to leverage recent Ukrainian military successes and renewed US support to maintain Trump's backing amid shifting US foreign policy priorities.
