VATICAN CITY. U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met privately inside a marble-lined Vatican basilica on Saturday, seeking to revive faltering efforts to end Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The two leaders, in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, sat closely together in St. Peter’s Basilica with no aides present. According to Zelenskiy’s office, the conversation lasted around 15 minutes, and images released by Kyiv and Washington showed them leaning in toward each other during the talks.
Zelenskiy described the meeting as potentially historic. In a post on Telegram, he wrote, “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 further emphasized, “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.”
Zelenskiy added: “It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results. Thank you, President Donald Trump!”
A White House spokesperson echoed Zelenskiy’s optimism, calling the conversation “very productive.”
This encounter marks the first time the two have met since a tense Oval Office meeting in February, when Trump accused Zelenskiy of “gambling with World War Three.” Since then, both sides have made efforts to reset ties, though tensions and differences have remained.
Following the funeral service for Pope Francis, Trump boarded Air Force One to depart Rome. During the flight, he posted a sharp message on Truth Social criticizing 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, referring to a Russian missile attack on a Kyiv apartment block that killed 12 people.
He added, “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!!!”
Following Trump’s post, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said the Senate was ready to move forward with bipartisan legislation imposing trade sanctions on countries buying Russian oil, gas, and other products.
“The Senate stands ready to move in this direction and will do so overwhelmingly if Russia does not embrace an honorable, just, and enduring peace,” Graham posted on X (formerly Twitter).
During the funeral service at St. Peter’s Square, Trump and Zelenskiy joined other world leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. A photograph released by Zelenskiy’s office showed the four leaders in a close huddle, with Macron’s hand resting on Zelenskiy’s shoulder.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who delivered the sermon at the funeral, recalled Pope Francis’s tireless calls for peace throughout his papacy.
“War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone,” the cardinal said.
Despite the warm gestures, significant differences remain between Washington’s current proposals and Ukraine’s stance. According to documents from the latest shuttle diplomacy efforts obtained by Reuters, Washington is reportedly suggesting legal recognition of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, as Russian territory, a red line that Kyiv and its European allies refuse to cross.
Disagreements also persist over the timeline for lifting sanctions on Russia, the nature of security guarantees for Ukraine, and financial compensation for war damages.
Trump has warned that the U.S. could withdraw from peace negotiations if both Moscow and Kyiv fail to agree on a deal soon. Meanwhile, Zelenskiy continues to push for terms that ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security.
The personal relationship between Trump and Zelenskiy has been rocky. While Trump has often criticized Zelenskiy for “foot-dragging” on peace talks, Zelenskiy has accused Trump of being caught in a “disinformation bubble” favoring Moscow.
Nevertheless, both leaders recognize the necessity of cooperation. Trump needs Zelenskiy’s support to broker a swift peace agreement, while Ukraine needs Trump’s influence to pressure Moscow for more favorable terms.
During the meeting in Rome, Zelenskiy once again eschewed formal attire, wearing a dark, buttoned-up shirt without a tie, paired with a military-style jacket — a style he has maintained since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 to show solidarity with his troops.
As the world mourned the passing of Pope Francis, a pontiff known for advocating peace and dialogue, the Trump-Zelenskiy meeting offered a small glimmer of hope for progress in ending Europe’s bloodiest conflict in decades.
Edgaroo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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