On Tuesday, July 28th, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington for separate visits marked by contrasting political fortunes and a challenging relationship with the US administration.

Both leaders regard a meeting with President Donald Trump as crucial for their countries and ongoing conflicts. However, Trump's erratic leadership has contributed to a decline in the influence of the presidency he sought to establish.

Netanyahu's standing has notably diminished since convincing Trump to support a war on Iran five months ago, based on the unfounded expectation that Tehran would quickly collapse. Since then, Trump has publicly reprimanded Netanyahu and leaked disparaging remarks about him. Israel has been excluded from key negotiations involving Iran, including discussions on selling F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey and a nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia.

Zelenskyy's visit, while still critical, represents an improvement compared to his February 2025 encounter with Trump and Vice President JD Vance, who publicly humiliated him by demanding gratitude and acceptance of defeat with "no cards" left to play.

Observers note that Trump may view these foreign leaders as subservient figures seeking favor, yet both Netanyahu and Zelenskyy remain acutely aware of his vulnerabilities alongside their own.

Sources