Netanyahu and Zelenskyy to attend Lindsey Graham's funeral, meet Trump separately

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy are among the world leaders traveling to Washington to attend the funeral of the late Senator Lindsey Graham, with both planning separate meetings with President Donald Trump during their visits.

Key Developments

• Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday at Trump's invitation, his office announced. This marks his second visit to the capital since mid-February, just weeks before the outbreak of the Iran war.
• Zelenskyy also plans to attend the Washington funeral, according to MS NOW, citing a White House official.
• Both leaders intend to meet with Trump, offering opportunities to advance their respective agendas amid ongoing global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.

Context of the Visits

Ukraine

Zelenskyy's visit comes as U.S. and Ukrainian officials discuss new peace proposals to end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Israel and Iran

For Netanyahu, the meeting provides a chance to discuss the Iran war, where fighting is currently at a halt. Monday marks the third day without reported U.S. strikes in Iran, with both countries appearing to observe a pause.

Overlapping Conflicts

The two conflicts intersected over the weekend when Ukraine struck an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, killing a sailor. Kyiv stated the vessel was transporting weapons to aid Russia. Tehran described the incident as a "hostile and criminal act," with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posting on X that Israel was the driver behind the Ukrainian attack.

Netanyahu's Statement

In an X post on Monday, Netanyahu outlined his objectives for the meeting with Trump:

"Our goal is clear: to safeguard Israel's security, strengthen its power, and expand the circle of peace around us."

He also noted he would pay his respects to Graham, whom he described as a "true friend." Following Graham's death, Netanyahu wrote in a separate post that the late senator, who served on the Foreign Relations Committee, "understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable."

Senator Lindsey Graham's Passing

Graham died of an aortic dissection on the evening of July 11, shortly after returning from a trip to Ukraine where he had been meeting with Zelenskyy regarding U.S. sanctions on Russia, CNBC previously reported.

Zelenskyy expressed being "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. We remained in constant dialogue, and I will miss our conversations."

Zelenskyy also praised Graham as an advocate for "bipartisan and bicameral support for Ukraine."

Funeral Arrangements

Graham will have two funeral services:

• Tuesday: A service in Washington, D.C.
• Wednesday: His remains will be transported to his home state of South Carolina for a second service.