Donald Trump recently met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a significant encounter before the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican. This meeting marks the first face-to-face discussion between the two leaders since a public disagreement in February. The talks took place in a grand hall inside St. Peter’s Basilica, where the two leaders sat just two feet apart.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed hope that their discussions could lead to a historic outcome. Trump, however, voiced skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. After leaving Rome, Trump shared his doubts on his Truth Social platform, criticizing Putin for recent missile strikes on civilian areas. He stated, “There was no reason for him to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days.”
Trump suggested that Putin might not want to end the conflict, implying that different strategies, like banking measures or secondary sanctions, might be necessary to address the situation. He lamented the high number of casualties resulting from the war.
Zelenskyy described the meeting as productive, focusing on the defense of Ukraine, a call for an unconditional ceasefire, and the need for lasting peace. The Ukrainian president’s office confirmed that the meeting lasted around 15 minutes, and they agreed to continue their discussions later that day. However, Trump departed for Washington shortly after the funeral, and no additional talks occurred.
The meeting included other notable figures, such as UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who participated in parts of the discussions. Macron later stated that Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire and emphasized the importance of a coalition led by the UK and France to pursue lasting peace.
This encounter comes at a crucial time, as direct talks between Russia and Ukraine have been absent since the early days of the war, which began in February 2022. Trump has previously claimed that a peace deal is "very close" and urged Zelenskyy to act swiftly to finalize it.
In related news, tensions continue to rise as the Polish military reported a Russian helicopter violating its airspace, raising concerns about regional security. This incident highlights the ongoing complexities of the situation in Eastern Europe and the need for diplomatic engagement to ensure stability.