US President Donald Trump will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on Tuesday, as the wars in Iran and Ukraine enter a sensitive phase. Trump’s relationship with the two leaders has taken different paths in recent months. His focus on Ukraine is reported to have increased after Ukrainian forces managed to halt advances by the Russian military. Meanwhile, Netanyahu is travelling to Washington as the White House has expressed concern over the lack of progress towards a broader agreement aimed at ending the conflict with Iran. Netanyahu and Zelensky are in the US capital to attend a memorial ceremony for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s close allies. Graham has repeatedly urged the president to provide stronger support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The war in Ukraine and escalating tensions in the Middle East have both reached a critical point. Following the collapse of a ceasefire in the Iran conflict, Trump said the US had paused air strikes to allow more time for diplomatic efforts. At the same time, recent battlefield gains by Ukraine have boosted President Zelensky’s confidence as he seeks further international support for his country’s war effort.
