The scheduling of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s meeting with former President Donald Trump immediately after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy raises serious questions about Trump’s priorities and the potential impact on US support for Ukraine. By giving Netanyahu what appears to be a more welcoming audience, Trump risks sending a message that Israel matters more than Ukraine, a dangerous signal at a time when Ukraine is fighting for its survival against Russian aggression.
Critics point to the timing: the meetings came just after the Pentagon announced a delay in military aid to Ukraine, officially due to logistics. However, the proximity to Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu could be interpreted as a tacit endorsement of deprioritising Ukraine. Trump has repeatedly expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and questioned the value of continued aid to Ukraine. Meeting Netanyahu, a leader with whom Trump has a close personal bond, while Zelenskyy’s circumstances are far more desperate, may undermine efforts to maintain bipartisan support for Ukraine.
Senator Lindsey Graham, whose funeral service the meetings preceded, was a staunch supporter of Ukraine aid. The back-to-back meetings before his funeral service could be seen as a political gesture that does not align with Graham’s legacy. By not explicitly reaffirming support for Ukraine in conjunction with the meetings, Trump leaves ambiguity that could be exploited by opponents of aid.
The practical consequences are significant. Every delay in US aid strengthens Russia’s position and costs Ukrainian lives. By appearing to favour Netanyahu, Trump may embolden Republicans in Congress who are already hesitant to approve more funding. For Israel, the meeting could be beneficial, but at the expense of Ukraine’s morale and strategic position.
What remains unclear is whether Trump will publicly commit to continued Ukraine aid. Until then, the message from these back-to-back meetings is one of uncertainty and potential neglect. The Pentagon must prove the aid delay is truly logistical, not political, to reassure Kyiv and its allies.