Netanyahu and Zelensky Head to DC for Graham Funeral
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Zelensky will both attend Senator Lindsey Graham's funeral Tuesday and hold separate meetings with President Trump during their Washington visit.
According to Caitlin Doornbos writing in New York Post, Netanyahu will arrive in the capital on Monday following a direct invitation from the White House. The Israeli leader’s office confirmed the visit will include both attendance at Graham’s funeral ceremony and an official meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement noting the prime minister would participate in memorial services for Graham, whom they described as a friend of Israel, while also conducting official business with the Trump administration.
The Ukrainian president will similarly meet with Trump on Tuesday, a White House official confirmed. Volodymyr Zelensky had met with Graham in Kyiv just one day before the senator’s unexpected death on July 11.
The 71-year-old South Carolina Republican spent his final hours working on new sanctions legislation targeting Russia, consistent with his longtime focus on international affairs. Graham had devoted substantial legislative energy to supporting both Israel and Ukraine, particularly following Moscow’s large-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The funeral gathering presents an unusual diplomatic opportunity, bringing together key allied leaders during a period of ongoing tensions in both Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
With information from New York Post
