What Netanyahu and Zelenskyy are hoping to accomplish after meetings with Trump

Geoff Bennett:

President Trump eulogized Graham after hosting two of Graham's strongest international allies, Israel's prime minister and Ukraine's president.

Nick Schifrin starts our coverage.

Nick Schifrin:

Today, it was all smiles in the Oval Office and a tale of two leaders, a U.S. partner once disparaged now praised, and a wartime ally once celebrated now increasingly doubted.

For years, President Trump has stood by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's side with repeated endorsements.

President Donald Trump:

There's only one Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Bibi, please stand up.

Nick Schifrin:

Crescendoing in an unprecedented joint war.

Donald Trump:

We have a little difference, but pretty close.

Nick Schifrin:

But, recently, President Trump has acknowledged a gap between Israel's pushing for an indefinite occupation of Southern Lebanon...

Donald Trump:

I was a little bit perturbed at his constantly fighting with Lebanon. At some point, I said, Bibi, we got to step this.

Nick Schifrin:

... and a gap between President Trump's desire to make a deal with Iran and some Israelis pushing for escalation, even publicly discussing bombing Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, which Israel says hides Iranian nuclear enrichment devices.

Donald Trump:

I don't need Bibi to tell me that. Bibi's telling me that because he wants me to stay involved. I heard Bibi announce that. I said, why don't you just tell it to me? Why do you have to announce it to the world?

Nick Schifrin:

And the war in Gaza has made support for Israel more partisan.

Zohran Mamdani (D), Mayor of New York City: Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal.

Nick Schifrin:

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has disparaged Netanyahu and endorse Democratic candidates critical of Israel, all of whom won their primaries.

Vice President J.D. Vance:

Anybody in Israel who thinks their biggest problem is the president of the United States needs to wake up and smell the reality of the situation that country is in.

Nick Schifrin:

The criticism is increasingly bipartisan and voiced this month on Joe Rogan's podcast by Vice President Vance.

J.D. Vance:

There are some people within their system we know beyond a shadow of a doubt who are manipulating and trying to change American public opinion to keep the war going on indefinitely, again, not towards any objective, but just indefinitely.

Nick Schifrin:

But, this afternoon, Netanyahu called today's meeting excellent.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister (through interpreter):

It was a conversation of full partnership, of mutual support, an understanding of the shared goal to ensure that Iran will not have nuclear weapons and also other goals.

Nick Schifrin:

As for Zelenskyy:

Donald Trump:

He's done an amazing job. Look, he's been -- he's been very effective. He's had the best equipment because he's had our equipment.

Nick Schifrin:

President Trump and other senior officials have recently provided him praise.

Donald Trump:

We have actually developed a good relationship. It's hard to believe, right? From the Oval Office to now.

Nick Schifrin:

It's light years from last year's train wreck...

Donald Trump:

You're gambling with World War III.

Nick Schifrin:

... and demands to end the war, no matter the cost to Ukraine.

Donald Trump:

They should stop right now at the battle lines,go home, stop killing people and be done.

Nick Schifrin:

But Ukraine has recently seized the frontline initiative, launching strikes deep into Russia and cutting off Russian supplies to occupy Crimea.

And, tonight, Ukrainian officials tell "PBS News Hour" the meeting was -- quote -- "very practical" and focused on restarting diplomacy, including a possible visit by presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy and Netanyahu came together briefly before Senator Graham's memorial, two leaders of two countries whom Graham championed.

Sean Hannity, FOX News Anchor:

He loved the state of Israel. He loved the people of Israel.

Nick Schifrin:

And as FOX News' Sean Hannity noted to a full Washington National Cathedral, Graham's final trip was to Kyiv to visit Zelenskyy and push a new sanctions package on Russia, expected to pass in the coming days.

Sean Hannity:

Your country has shown a fighting spirit that no one ever predicted. Now, he was proud of you and the courage of your countrymen.

Nick Schifrin:

A sentiment that President Trump has come to appreciate, even as he acknowledges gaps with a wartime ally.

For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Nick Schifrin