President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met privately on Saturday at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral. The two leaders discussed efforts to secure a ceasefire and reach a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.
The meeting, lasting about 15 minutes, was described by both sides as smoother and more productive than their previous encounter in February at the White House. President Trump and President Zelensky agreed to continue diplomatic conversations aimed at protecting Ukrainian lives and achieving an unconditional ceasefire.
According to a White House spokesman, the meeting was “very productive,” with both leaders expressing optimism about ongoing negotiations. President Trump had earlier stated that Russia and Ukraine were “very close” to finalizing a peace agreement, urging leadership from both nations to “finish it off” to end the bloodshed.
The timing of the meeting was seen as symbolic, coinciding with the funeral of Pope Francis, a global advocate for peace. President Trump reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating negotiations, emphasizing that the major points of a potential peace deal have already been agreed upon by both sides.
In addition to the peace talks, President Trump reminded Ukraine of the pending Rare Earths Deal with the United States, noting that the agreement was overdue by at least three weeks. He called for immediate action to finalize the deal, highlighting its strategic importance for both nations.
President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was also in Moscow during the same period, engaging with Russian officials to push forward the peace process.
