ROME, ITALY — In a significant diplomatic encounter during the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a private meeting on Saturday within a Vatican basilica, aiming to revitalize efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy expressed optimism that the meeting could yield historic results, while a White House spokesperson described the discussion as “very productive.”
The two leaders engaged in a 15-minute conversation, captured in images released by their respective offices, seated closely together without aides in St. Peter’s Basilica, according to Zelenskyy’s office. This meeting, their first since a contentious encounter in the Oval Office in February, occurred at a crucial juncture in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Following the funeral service, President Trump departed Rome on Air Force One. While airborne, he posted on Truth Social, taking a firm stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump wrote, referencing a Russian missile attack that killed 12 people in Kyiv on Thursday.
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!” Trump continued. This marked a shift from his prior rhetoric, which often directed criticism at Zelenskyy while expressing positive sentiments toward Putin.
In a Telegram post, President Zelenskyy stated, “Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot. We hope for a result from all the things that were spoken about.” He outlined the discussion topics as “The protection of the lives of our people. A complete and unconditional ceasefire. A reliable and lasting peace that will prevent a recurrence of war.” Zelenskyy added, “It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results. Thank you, President Donald Trump!”
No aides in sight
Photographs released by Zelenskyy’s office depicted the two leaders seated opposite each other in a basilica hall, engaged in close conversation without any aides present. Another image showed Zelenskyy, Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron in a close huddle, with Macron placing a hand on Zelenskyy’s shoulder.
Following their private meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy joined other world leaders in St. Peter’s Square for the funeral service of Pope Francis, who consistently advocated for peace, including in Ukraine.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who delivered the funeral homily, recalled Pope Francis’s persistent calls for negotiations to end conflicts, stating, “War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone.”
Differences over territory
President Trump has been actively pushing for a ceasefire and peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, having previously warned that his administration would withdraw from peace efforts if a deal is not reached promptly.
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However, documents from recent diplomatic talks, obtained by Reuters, revealed discrepancies between the Trump White House’s position and that of Ukraine and its European allies. Washington has proposed a legal recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, a stance that Kyiv and its European allies have deemed a red line.
Disagreements also persist regarding the timeline for lifting sanctions on Russia, the nature of security guarantees for Ukraine, and the provision of financial compensation to Ukraine.
The relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy has been strained. During their Oval Office meeting, Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three.” Despite Kyiv’s efforts to improve relations, tensions have continued.
Zelenskyy has accused Trump of being trapped in a “disinformation bubble” favoring Moscow, while Trump has criticized Zelenskyy for delaying peace negotiations and making “inflammatory” statements.
Nevertheless, both leaders recognize their mutual dependence. Trump needs Zelenskyy’s cooperation to achieve his goal of a swift peace agreement, while Kyiv requires Trump to pressure Moscow to moderate its demands.
At the Oval Office meeting, Zelenskyy’s attire, a military-style outfit, drew criticism from a reporter from a conservative U.S. news network, who considered it disrespectful. Zelenskyy has consistently worn military attire since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, as a symbol of solidarity with his nation’s defenders.
In Rome, Zelenskyy again opted for a dark, buttoned-up shirt and a military-style jacket, foregoing a suit.
