U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held an unexpected meeting at the Vatican ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral.
According to a White House official, the leaders had a “very productive discussion” and agreed to hold further talks after the funeral service concludes.
Trump and Zelenskyy are among numerous world leaders, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have arrived at the Vatican to honor Pope Francis.
Former British Ambassador to Russia, Sir Tony Brenton, commented to Sky News that this meeting could represent “an important step toward initiating the peace process” between Russia and Ukraine. The meeting also marks the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since their public clash at the White House in February.
The bilateral meeting comes at a critical moment, as President Trump’s peace negotiator, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Friday. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, discussions focused on “the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,” which have been stalled since the early weeks of the conflict in February 2022.
President Trump has stated that a deal to end the war is “very close” and has called for an urgent meeting between the parties. In a post on his platform “Truth Social,” he urged Zelenskyy to “accept the deal.”
Trump has also warned that his administration would withdraw from diplomatic efforts if the parties fail to reach a consensus soon.
Meanwhile, tensions in the region remain high, as the Polish Armed Forces reported a breach of Baltic Sea airspace by a Russian military helicopter on Friday evening.
