Trump holds separate White House talks with Zelenskyy and Netanyahu

US President Donald Trump held separate White House meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, discussing the Russia-Ukraine war, Iran, regional diplomacy and peace efforts, as Washington balanced two major international conflicts

Washington: US President Donald Trump held separate White House talks on Tuesday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the United States confronted two wars and difficult diplomatic choices.

Both meetings took place behind closed doors in the Oval Office. The White House did not open either session to the press.

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“President Trump has concluded his meetings in the Oval Office with President Zelensky and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Both meetings were positive and productive!” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X.

Zelenskyy arrived at the White House at about 9:40 a.m. and entered through a side entrance of the West Wing. Netanyahu departed shortly after 12:25 p.m., according to reports.

The Israeli prime minister’s office later released photographs showing Netanyahu and Trump together. An Israeli official described their meeting as “very positive”.

Their talks were expected to focus on the war with Iran, negotiations involving Lebanon and efforts to expand the Abraham Accords, according to a White House official.

Netanyahu was also expected to present intelligence about alleged Iranian activity at Pickaxe Mountain, an underground facility believed to be connected to Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Trump, however, appeared irritated that the Israeli leader had publicly signalled his plan.

“I heard Bibi announce that,” Trump told Fox News, using Netanyahu’s nickname. “I said, ‘Why don’t you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?’”

The US president has signalled that he favours renewed diplomacy with Tehran, while Israel has pushed for sustained pressure on Iran. Trump acknowledged differences between the allies on Monday.

“We have a little difference, but pretty close,” he said.

Trump again warned Iran on Tuesday that the United States could strike bridges and power plants if Tehran failed to reach an agreement.

Zelenskyy’s meeting centred on US support for Ukraine and efforts to revive peace negotiations with Russia. The Ukrainian leader said afterwards that he had discussed air defence systems and renewed diplomacy with Trump.

Zelenskyy arrived in Washington seeking progress on sanctions against Russia, a drone agreement, Patriot air defence systems and peace talks. He was also expected to meet lawmakers and address a gathering of the full Senate.

The White House said Trump remained focused on ending the Russia-Ukraine war. “The president and his team remain committed to continuing to play a constructive role in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, and he remains optimistic that we’ll ultimately get a peace deal done,” it said.