U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met one-on-one in St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday while in Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral, attempting to revive peace efforts for the Russia-Ukraine war.
According to Zelenskiy’s office, the leaders spoke privately for approximately 15 minutes. This marked their first meeting since a tense February encounter in the Oval Office.
“Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot,” Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram afterward. He mentioned they discussed “protection of our people,” “a complete and unconditional ceasefire,” and “a reliable and lasting peace.” The Ukrainian leader added, “It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results.”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the discussion as “very productive.”
Photos released by Zelenskiy’s office showed the two leaders seated opposite each other in the basilica, leaning in close during conversation with no aides present. Another image captured Zelenskiy and Trump in a huddle with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Following their meeting, both leaders attended Pope Francis’s funeral service, where Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re noted the Pope’s persistent calls for negotiations to end conflicts.
Trump has recently claimed progress in talks between his envoy and the Russian leadership. However, significant differences remain between Washington’s position and those of Ukraine and its European allies. Key points of contention include the legal status of Crimea, sanctions relief timing, and security guarantees for Ukraine.
The Trump-Zelenskiy relationship has been strained, with Trump previously accusing Zelenskiy of “gambling with World War Three” and Zelenskiy suggesting Trump was in a “disinformation bubble” favoring Moscow. Despite tensions, each needs the other’s cooperation – Trump requires Zelenskiy’s support to achieve a peace deal, while Ukraine needs Trump to pressure Russia into softening its demands.
At the Vatican meeting, Zelenskiy once again wore his characteristic military-style attire rather than formal diplomatic dress, maintaining his practice since Russia’s 2022 invasion as a show of solidarity with Ukrainian fighters.
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Trump and Zelenskyy Hold Private Meeting in Vatican During Pope’s Funeral
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met one-on-one in St. Peter's Basilica on Saturday while in Rome for Pope Francis's funeral, attempting to revive peace efforts for the Russia-Ukraine war. According to Zelenskiy's office, the leaders spoke privately for approximately 15 minutes. This marked their first meeting since a tense February encounter in the Oval Office. "Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram afterward. He mentioned they discussed "protection of our people," "a complete and unconditional ceasefire," and "a reliable and lasting peace." The Ukrainian leader added, "It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results." White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described the discussion as "very productive." Photos released by Zelenskiy's office showed the two leaders seated opposite each other in […]
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