Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ronen Zvulun | Afp | Getty Images
Politicians and world leaders, including the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gather in Washington to meet the president Donald Trump in town to honor the late Senator Lindsey Graham at his funeral Tuesday.
HAS AssetFollowing Netanyahu’s invitation, Netanyahu traveled to Washington on Monday to attend the ceremony, his office announced. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also plans to attend the funeral in Washington, a White House official confirmed.
Both leaders plan to meet with Trump during their respective visits. The meetings could give Netanyahu and Zelenskyy a chance to advance their agendas against Trump amid global conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Each man has already managed to get Trump to buy into their positions in previous direct conversations.
For Zelensky, the visit comes as U.S. and Ukrainian officials discuss new peace proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s 2022 deal. large-scale invasion. Trump plans to discuss these topics during his meeting, a White House official confirmed.
For Netanyahu, who last came to Washington in February, this meeting is an opportunity to discuss Iran was – where the fights take place currently at a standstill. Monday marks the third day since U.S. strikes were reported in Iran, and the two countries appear to be maintaining a pause in hostilities.
THE two conflicts overlapped this weekend, when Ukraine killed a sailor after its army collided with an Iranian commercial ship in the Caspian Sea. The ship was carrying weapons to help Russia, kyiv said. Tehran, however, described the incident as a “hostile and criminal act”. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement Message On Sunday, it was Israel which was the driving force behind the Ukrainian attack.
When asked by reporters Monday why he was meeting with Netanyahu and whether they were aligned on the war in Iran, Trump replied: “We have a little difference, but pretty close.”
According to a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans for the meeting, in addition to the conflict in Iran, Trump will discuss trilateral frame agreement between Israel and Lebanon and the expansion of the Abraham Accords during his meeting with Netanyahu.
Netanyahu plans to discuss Israel’s security and strength with Trump, he wrote in a statement. Message Monday.
“Our goal is clear: to safeguard Israel’s security, strengthen its power and expand the circle of peace around us,” he said in his message. He also wrote that he would pay tribute to Graham during his visit, who he described as a “true friend”.
Netanyahu said in a separate statement Message After Graham’s death, the late senator, who served on the Foreign Relations Committee, “understood that the security of Israel and America are inseparable.”
Graham died just after returning from a trip to Ukraine where he was meeting with Zelensky over U.S. sanctions against Russia. He died of an aortic dissection on the evening of July 11. CNBC previously reported.
Zelensky was “deeply saddened” by the news, he said in a July 12 statement. post on.
“He visited Ukraine ten times during the years of Russia’s full-scale invasion and was here with our people when they needed it most,” Zelenskyy said. “We remained in constant dialogue and I will miss our conversations.”
Zelenskyy also praised Graham as an advocate for “bipartisan, bicameral support for Ukraine.”
Two funerals for GrahamGraham’s funeral in Washington will be held Tuesday at the Washington National Cathedral. After that, his remains will be transported to his home state of South Carolina for a second service on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Air Force personnel will transport Graham’s remains to the Capitol where he will be recognized for his years of public service, his office announcement. Graham’s remains will then be transported for the cathedral funeral, which will include a speech by Trump.
Members of the public can view both ceremonies via livestream, according to Graham’s office.
On Wednesday, a funeral procession will be held outside the South Carolina statehouse in Columbia, where members of the public will be invited to pay their respects. The event will include an F-16 flyby from the 169th Fighter Wing at Joint National Guard Base McEntire and a presentation from law enforcement, Graham’s office said. The late senator was an Air Force veteran.
The procession will be followed by a funeral service at the First Baptist Church of Columbia. Finally, the family will have a private burial in Pickens County.
“I am grateful to everyone who came together to help honor and remember Lindsey,” You. Darline Graham, RS.C., said in a July 15 statement. The late senator’s sister replaced him in the Senate on July 14 after being appointed by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster. She is now running for a full six-year term, with Trump’s support.
Graham thanked Senate leaders, Trump, the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms and the venues hosting the services for “going above and beyond to ensure that these will be honorable tributes to Lindsey.”