Netanyahu and Zelenskyy to arrive in Washington for Graham funeral – with hopes of winning Trump’s ear

Benjamin Netanyahu. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images View image in fullscreen Benjamin Netanyahu. Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images Netanyahu and Zelenskyy to arrive in Washington for Graham funeral – with hopes of winning Trump’s ear Both men scheduled to meet Trump at time where US policy towards wars in Iran and Ukraine in state of flux Benjamin Netanyahu and Volodymyr Zelenskyy are set to arrive in Washington simultaneously with the goal of winning the ear of Donald Trump at pivotal moments in wars affecting their respective countries. Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, and Zelenskyy, the Ukrainian president, will attend Tuesday’s funeral of Lindsey Graham, the former Republican senator for South Carolina, who died suddenly on 11 July and was a close ally of both leaders. Both men are scheduled to meet the president at a time when US policy towards the wars in Iran and Ukraine is in a state of flux. Lindsey Graham, key ally of Donald Trump, dies after sudden illness aged 71 Read more The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu will be the first between the two leaders since February, when they were in lockstep preparing for strikes against Iran that began on 28 February. Since then, tensions between the pair have risen as the war has drifted inconclusively, with Trump calling the Israeli premier “crazy” and declaring: “Without me, there would be no Israel.” Fueling the tensions between the pair is continuing uncertainty over Trump’s zigzagging approach to the regime in Tehran, which he once openly supported toppling – in line with the stance of Netanyahu, who has long plotted its overthrow. Last month, the US signed a memorandum of understanding that was meant to institute a 60-day ceasefire in the conflict, during which Iran would reopen the strategically vital strait of Hormuz and negotiations would begin over the country’s nuclear program. Trump ‘shouted and cursed Netanyahu over threat to resume Beirut bombing’ Read more Netanyahu is not believed to have been consulted on the deal, which some analysts say took little account of Israel’s interests. Trump this month publicly repudiated the agreement as Iran continued to attack commercial ships in the strait. US forces struck Iranian targets for 13 consecutive nights as Trump threatened to escalate further by hitting civilian infrastructure. In recent days, however, the conflict has been paused once again amid reports that negotiations have resumed and Pentagon concerns that US missile stocks are running low. Axios reported that Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, had recommended stopping the bombing campaign because it had reached the limits of effectiveness. View image in fullscreen Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump in December 2025. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images Netanyahu is also believed to be unhappy over a deal announced last week between the US and Saudi Arabia allowing for a civil Saudi nuclear program. Zelenskyy’s presence is equally significant as it