In both cases, that remains to be seen. Neither Ukraine’s Zelensky nor Israel’s Netanyahu were met at the front door of the White House; both were ushered in and out through a side door. No press was allowed at either meeting. The acting president Zelensky got about an hour of Trump’s time; Bibi a half hour more. White House Press Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt posted a joint one-liner on both meetings on her X: “Both meetings were positive and productive!” Trump said nothing. All three then went to mourn the Senator from South Carolina who loved sending everyone but himself to fight any war possible.
What did Zelensky get from Trump? The only “new” thing reported, and that coming from Ukrainian officials, is that Trump’s two envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, may soon travel to Ukraine. The New York Post played this up as “a diplomatic coup” for Zelensky. Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.S. Olha Stefanishyna was less certain. She told the Post that “this possibility was indeed discussed during the meetings today, which Mr. Witkoff attended. Whether the visit ultimately takes place remains to be seen.”
Zelensky’s Office of the President reported that the two had discussed implementing Trump’s approval of Ukraine receiving licenses to produce Patriot interceptors (announced at the July 8 NATO summit), “as well as some other ideas that could help,” not further specified. The statement threw in that “special attention was paid to diplomacy. It is important to reinvigorate the diplomatic process. The teams will coordinate the details of further communication.” Zelensky’s next meetings were with a leadership team from Lockheed Martin on joint weapons production, and then with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, the designated “Trump whisperer” for Europe’s war party.
