Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are traveling to Washington this week for separate meetings with President Donald Trump, capitalizing on their visits to attend the funeral of the late Senator Lindsey Graham.
Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday at Trump’s invitation, his office confirmed. Zelenskyy also plans to attend Tuesday’s funeral service, according to a White House official cited by MS NOW. The timing offers both leaders an opportunity to advance their respective agendas with Trump as major conflicts continue in their regions.
Middle East Tensions and Peace Talks
The meetings come at a critical juncture for both leaders. Netanyahu’s visit provides a chance to discuss the Iran war, where fighting has been on pause. Monday marked the third consecutive day without reported U.S. strikes in Iran, suggesting the two countries are maintaining a temporary cessation of hostilities.
For Zelenskyy, the visit occurs as U.S. and Ukrainian officials discuss new peace proposals aimed at ending the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Both leaders have previously succeeded in gaining Trump’s support through direct conversations, making these face-to-face meetings potentially significant.
“Our goal is clear: to safeguard Israel’s security, strengthen its power, and expand the circle of peace around us,” Netanyahu wrote on X Monday. He also described Graham as a “true friend” and said he would pay his respects during the visit.
Conflicts Intersect
The Middle East and Ukraine conflicts intersected over the weekend when Ukrainian forces struck an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing a sailor. Kyiv said the vessel was transporting weapons to aid Russia. Tehran called the incident a “hostile and criminal act,” with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claiming in an X post Sunday that Israel was behind the Ukrainian attack.
This marks Netanyahu’s return to Washington since his last visit in February. In a separate X post following Graham’s death, Netanyahu said the late senator “understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable.” Graham served on the Foreign Relations Committee during his Senate tenure.
Honoring Graham’s Legacy
Graham died on the evening of July 11 from an aortic dissection, shortly after returning from a trip to Ukraine where he had met with Zelenskyy about U.S. sanctions on Russia.
Zelenskyy said he was “deeply saddened” by the news in a July 12 post on X. “He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when it was most needed,” Zelenskyy wrote. “We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations.”
The Ukrainian president also praised Graham as an advocate for “bipartisan and bicameral support for Ukraine.”
Graham’s Washington funeral service will take place Tuesday at the Washington National Cathedral, where Trump will deliver an address. On Tuesday, Air Force servicemembers will carry Graham’s remains into the Capitol for recognition of his public service before the cathedral ceremony.
A second service will follow Wednesday in South Carolina, featuring a funeral procession outside the statehouse in Columbia. The event will include an F-16 flyover from the 169th Fighter Wing of the McEntire Joint National Guard Base and a law enforcement presentation, honoring Graham’s service as an Air Force veteran. A funeral service at the First Baptist Church of Columbia will follow, with a private family burial in Pickens County concluding the memorial events.
Senator Darline Graham, who replaced her brother in the Senate on July 14 after being appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, thanked those involved in organizing the tributes in a July 15 statement. She is now running for a full six-year term with Trump’s endorsement.
Source: www.cnbc.com — https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/27/trump-netanyahu-zelenskyy-iran-war-lindsey-graham-funeral.html
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