WASHINGTON, July 28 — U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday, as the wars involving Iran and Ukraine enter critical stages and Trump’s relationships with both leaders shift noticeably.

Relations between Trump and Zelensky have improved after Ukraine halted Russian advances on several fronts. Netanyahu, meanwhile, arrives amid growing frustration within the White House over the lack of progress toward a broader settlement in the war with Iran, as well as criticism from some Trump supporters who oppose deeper U.S. involvement in the Middle East.

Both leaders are visiting Washington to attend a memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent Republican foreign-policy hawk and one of Trump’s closest allies. Graham repeatedly sought to persuade the president to provide greater support for Ukraine.

Trump welcomed Zelensky to the White House shortly after the Ukrainian president arrived in Washington. Zelensky said ballistic-missile defense and strategic cooperation with the United States would be top priorities during his meetings with Trump and members of his administration.

“Peace must be brought closer,” Zelensky wrote on X.

The wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have both reached decisive moments. Following the collapse of a ceasefire in the war with Iran, Trump said he had temporarily suspended U.S. airstrikes to give diplomacy another opportunity. Ukraine, meanwhile, has gained confidence from its recent military successes.

Despite these developments, neither conflict appears close to ending.

Air Defenses and Drone Agreement

Trump and Zelensky repeatedly clashed during the opening months of the U.S. president’s second term. Their relationship has improved in recent months, however, as Ukraine has achieved greater success on the battlefield, including through intensified attacks on Russia’s oil sector.

Zelensky is expected to press Trump for urgently needed air-defense capabilities and the completion of a drone agreement. The two leaders are also likely to discuss Trump’s pledge at the NATO summit to grant Ukraine a licence to manufacture Patriot interceptor missiles.

Last week, Zelensky spoke with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner about the possibility of resuming peace negotiations with Russia. He said Ukrainian and American officials could meet in the United States in the coming days.

Following his White House meeting, Zelensky is expected to travel to the U.S. Capitol for discussions with senators.

Netanyahu Seeks Trump’s Support Ahead of Election

Trump’s relationship with Netanyahu has alternated between close cooperation and visible tension. At times, Trump has sought to restrain the Israeli prime minister from striking targets in Lebanon as Netanyahu pursued efforts to weaken Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

The depth of their tensions became public following a heated and profanity-laced telephone call in June, during which Trump described Netanyahu as “completely crazy.” Details of the exchange were initially leaked to the media before Trump later confirmed it.

Netanyahu is seeking Trump’s backing ahead of Israel’s election scheduled for October 27, according to people familiar with the matter.

A meeting with Trump could strengthen Netanyahu domestically as opinion polls indicate that he faces a difficult electoral contest. The Israeli prime minister hopes the visit will underscore what has traditionally been viewed as a close relationship between the two leaders.

“In these complicated times, you have to act with great determination and wisdom,” Netanyahu said in a video statement before departing for Washington. “We will discuss all the issues on the agenda, first and foremost Iran.”

“Our goal is, of course, to protect our security and also to expand the circle of peace around us,” he added.

A White House official said Trump and Netanyahu would discuss the war with Iran and tensions between Israel and Lebanon. Trump hosted the Lebanese president last week.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss the Abraham Accords, a series of U.S.-brokered agreements that established diplomatic relations between Israel and several countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan.

Trump wants Saudi Arabia to join the accords. Last week, he made Saudi participation a condition for reaching an agreement with Riyadh on civilian nuclear-energy cooperation.

Saudi Arabia has so far refused to join the agreements without a clearly defined path toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.