Trump Holds Successive Closed-Door Meetings with Netanyahu and Zelensky, Seeking Breakthroughs in Wars

U.S. President Donald Trump held successive meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the 28th, local time.

President Trump met with President Zelensky at the White House on the morning of the same day.

Unlike White House meetings, which typically begin with a question-and-answer session with reporters, the meeting was held behind closed doors.

Following the meeting, President Zelensky stated via social media that they discussed the authorization for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles and peace negotiations.

President Trump had previously told President Zelensky during the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit held in Ankara, Turkey, earlier this month that he would grant authorization for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles.

This was a significant achievement for President Zelensky, who is in urgent need of securing interceptor missiles to defend against Russian ballistic missiles.

In today's meeting, President Zelensky is believed to have focused on follow-up consultations for the production of Patriot interceptor missiles.

Discussions may have also taken place regarding a potential truce plan between Ukraine and Russia through the suspension of long-range airstrikes.

Some analysts suggest that this meeting indicates President Trump, who has shown little progress in ending the war with Iran, may be turning his attention toward diplomatic achievements in the war in Ukraine.

In late February of last year, President Trump surprised observers by sharply and publicly reprimanding President Zelensky when he visited the White House.

Compared to that time, evaluations indicate that the two leaders have returned to a significantly friendly relationship.

Following President Zelensky, President Trump also held a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, which was likewise conducted behind closed doors.

Although Prime Minister Netanyahu has spoken frequently with President Trump over the phone since the war with Iran, this marks their first face-to-face meeting.

With a general election scheduled for late October, Prime Minister Netanyahu is reportedly in urgent need of the continuation of the war with Iran and President Trump's support, prompting him to actively push for the White House meeting.

According to AFP, citing an official from Prime Minister Netanyahu's camp, the meeting was very productive, and both leaders reaffirmed their ironclad commitment to the denuclearization of Iran.

Prior to the meeting, however, President Trump openly expressed frustration with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

This followed reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu intended to deliver intelligence regarding what is known as Iran's new underground nuclear facility, Mount Pickaxe, which reportedly provoked President Trump.

In an interview with Fox News earlier in the day, President Trump stated, "I know exactly what is going on at Mount Pickaxe," and asked, "Why don't they just talk to me instead of talking all over the world?"

This suggests he suspects Prime Minister Netanyahu of waging a public relations campaign to rally his political base by keeping the war with Iran ongoing.

It is observed that the meeting likely involved sharing the status of negotiations with Iran and discussing future countermeasures.

It is also anticipated that Prime Minister Netanyahu may have attempted to persuade President Trump to visit Israel before the general election.

While President Trump is agonizing over finding an exit strategy for the prolonged war with Iran, Prime Minister Netanyahu remains wary of peace negotiations between the United States and Iran.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, "Both meetings were positive and productive."

Specific details were not disclosed.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.