Trump’s Meetings with Zelenskiy and Netanyahu Ahead of Graham’s Funeral

President Donald Trump held separate discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they prepared to attend the funeral of the late Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Wednesday.

The White House press corps reported that Trump met Zelenskiy for the first time in the Oval Office around 9:47 a.m., away from the media.

After their meeting, Zelenskiy remarked, “It was a good meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office. I appreciate our joint efforts to protect the lives of Ukrainians and achieve peace.” He also extended his condolences to Trump regarding Graham’s passing, noting him as “a true friend of Ukraine.”

During their conversation, Zelenskiy mentioned they discussed obtaining a license to manufacture Patriot interceptors, among other useful ideas. “We also talked about the importance of revitalizing the diplomatic process. Our teams will coordinate further on communication. We appreciate the strong support of the United States,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Netanyahu arrived at the West Wing at 10:57 a.m., and his meeting with Trump began at 11:03 a.m. As of now, there has been no public statement from either the White House or Netanyahu’s office about this discussion. White House press secretary Caroline Levitt noted that both meetings concluded at 12:24 p.m., stating, “Both meetings were positive and productive.”

Graham was known for his strong support of both Israel and Ukraine, and leaders from both countries expressed their admiration for him after his death. Netanyahu reflected on the loss, saying, “Honestly, I’m in a state of shock because, as President Trump mentioned, Lindsey was so vibrant, so full of life, so dedicated, that it’s hard to accept he’s no longer here.”

He further added, “America has lost a great patriot. Israel has lost a staunch supporter of the American-Israel alliance. Personally, I’ve lost a dear friend of many decades. There’s truly no one like him.”

Zelenskiy also expressed his sadness over Graham’s passing, emphasizing that he was a “true champion of freedom and the values that make our world safer.” He recalled Graham’s visits to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict and appreciated their regular conversations, mentioning they had met twice in just the last week.

Prior to his unexpected death, Graham had recently returned from a trip to Kiev. Trump, Zelenskiy, and Netanyahu are set to attend Graham’s funeral at the Washington National Cathedral.