Donald Trump delivered a eulogy at the funeral of former Republican senator Lindsey Graham, who died earlier this month. At the occasion, Trump described his predecessor as a "true American original", marking the end of an era within his party. The funeral service was held in Washington DC, where prominent political figures from home and abroad gathered.
Numerous members of Congress attended the ceremony, as well as high-ranking foreign officials. Among those present were Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski. Zelenski's presence at Graham's funeral indicates the continuation of diplomatic contacts despite the political tensions that characterised the previous year.
The administrative structure of the administration and right-wing influencers have shown a shift in attitudes towards Ukraine, which can be interpreted as preparation for a new phase of relations. This change in rhetoric and approach comes after Trump and Zelenski had a friendly meeting earlier this month at the NATO summit, which served as a precursor to a new diplomatic tone.
The meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenski is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 am Eastern Time (ET). According to reports from the New York Times, this meeting will be closed to the media, meaning the public will not have direct insight into the course of the talks. The meeting is expected to be significantly more courteous and constructive compared to last year's encounters.
Last year, relations between the two leaders were burdened by open threats and sharp words. Trump then directly warned Zelenski that he "has no card", which attracted significant media attention and caused a diplomatic crisis. The current request for a closed-door meeting can be interpreted as an attempt to avoid public misunderstandings and focus on concrete issues without media pressure.
