Trump meets Zelenskyy and Netanyahu in Washington before senator Graham's funeral; Patriot missiles and Iran's Pickaxe site discussed

Condolences for a staunch ally

President Zelenskyy arrived at the White House shortly after 9:40 a.m. local time, beginning a day of mourning and diplomacy built around the funeral of Republican senator Lindsey Graham. Graham, 71, died from atherosclerotic heart disease after a short illness, the D.C. medical examiner's office reported. His final public act was a visit to Kyiv, where he announced an agreement on a new sanctions package against Moscow. Zelenskyy opened his Oval Office meeting by offering Trump condolences, later calling Graham 'a true friend of Ukraine'.

Przede wszystkim złożyłem prezydentowi Trumpowi kondolencje z powodu śmierci Lindseya Grahama. Był on prawdziwym przyjacielem Ukrainy.

Graham's support for Israel and his hard line on Iran were equally well known. He consistently backed robust military aid and sanctions, making his death a gathering point for the leaders he championed. His younger sister Darline Graham has taken his Senate seat, and a procedural vote on his sanctions bill is planned in Congress on Tuesday.

Patriots and diplomacy: the Trump-Zelenskyy agenda

The closed-door meeting, lasting just over an hour until 11:00 a.m., focused on deepening Ukraine's ballistic-missile defence and restarting diplomatic efforts. Zelenskyy wrote on social media that he and Trump examined a licence for producing Patriot interceptor missiles inside Ukraine, along with 'several other ideas that could help.' The concept was first floated by Trump at the Ankara NATO summit, where he also expressed interest in joint drone production.

Omówiliśmy z prezydentem kwestię licencji na produkcję pocisków przechwytujących do systemów Patriot oraz kilka innych pomysłów, które mogą okazać się pomocne. Rozmawialiśmy również o dyplomacji – istotne jest zintensyfikowanie działań na tym polu.

Trump has spoken favourably about his working relationship with Zelenskyy in recent months, and the White House described the peace process as the central theme of the talks. No media were admitted.

Iran's underground centrifuges: the Netanyahu meeting

Immediately after Zelenskyy's departure, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu entered the White House. According to Israeli intelligence reports cited in the press, Iran moved thousands of uranium-enrichment centrifuges last autumn into tunnels deep inside Kolang Mountain, known to American officials as Pickaxe Mountain. Netanyahu was expected to press Trump on the development.

Bibi nie musi mi o tym mówić. On mi to mówi, bo chce, żebym pozostał zaangażowany.

Trump had earlier claimed the Pickaxe site was 'not a big problem' and threatened to destroy it if no agreement is reached. The disclosure sharpens anxieties that Tehran is trying to revive a nuclear programme built around high-speed enrichment.

A funeral day on the Hill

Ceremonial events began on Capitol Hill in the morning, with vice president J.D. Vance and members of Congress paying their respects. The casket was then transported to the Washington National Cathedral, where the main funeral was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. local time (20:00 in Poland). President Trump is to deliver a eulogy. Additional services will continue on Wednesday in Graham's home state of South Carolina, where he had served as senator since 2003.