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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on Friday ended in high tension, marked with arguments in front of the global media. Meanwhile, Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was more harmonious.
High Tension in Trump-Zelensky Meeting
The meeting between Trump and Zelensky took place with increasing tension as the press conference ran longer than usual, on February 28, 2025. Kyiv Post reported that the atmosphere changed drastically when Trump referred to Ukraine as a "demolished" country, that seemed to trigger an emotional reaction from Zelensky.
As reported by Reuters, the situation heated up further when Zelensky responded in a seemingly derogatory manner to Vice President JD Vance. Vance had previously criticized former President Joe Biden's leadership in handling the war in Ukraine. Zelensky then gave a lengthy explanation of the history of the Russia-Ukraine conflict since 2014, which some parties concerned was unnecessary.
The debate intensified when Zelensky suggested that Vance visit Ukraine directly to see the destructive impact of the Russian invasion. This sparked a sharp exchange of words that worsened the relationship between the two leaders. Meanwhile, El Pais noted that this meeting became even more surprising considering Trump had previously shown a softer approach towards Ukraine in recent days.
Harmonious Trump-Netanyahu Meeting
In contrast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a very different reception when he arrived in the United States to discuss the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and the strategic policies in the Middle East on February 5, 2025. Upon arriving at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, Netanyahu was welcomed with a red carpet and a ceremony of honor by high-ranking Israeli officials and guard units carrying the flags of the U.S. and Israel.
Netanyahu was scheduled to meet with Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy for the Middle East, who played a key role in the negotiations for the Gaza ceasefire that came into effect in January. A day later, Netanyahu attended a meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday, before continuing discussions with U.S. military leaders at the Pentagon on Wednesday and members of Congress on Thursday.
In this series of meetings, Netanyahu planned to reaffirm Israel's main goals in the Gaza conflict, which are to achieve a full victory over Hamas and ensure the release of all hostages still held in the area. Netanyahu would also discuss strategies for dealing with Iran's influence in the region, which he referred to as the main threat to Israel's security.
Dynamics of Trump-Netanyahu Relations
According to Aljazeera, Trump and Netanyahu have had a close relationship during Trump's first term in office, especially after the U.S. officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved its embassy to the city. Trump also acknowledged Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights and facilitated the normalization agreement of Israel's relations with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain through the Abraham Accords.
However, their relationship began to strain after Netanyahu was one of the leaders to quickly congratulate Joe Biden on his winning the 2020 election. The decision is said to have disappointed Trump, reducing their interaction for some time.
Nevertheless, their relationship warmed up again after Netanyahu returned to office as Prime Minister of Israel with a right-wing government in early 2023. Netanyahu stated that Trump's invitation to visit the White House was a proof of the alliance between Israel and the United States and their enduring personal friendship.
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