Trump and Zelensky meet inside Vatican for key peace talks before Pope Francis' funeral
US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet inside St. Peter's Basilica for crucial war talks ahead of Pope Francis' funeral.
In an unexpected meeting on the morning of Pope Francis' funeral, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in urgent discussions regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The private meeting took place inside the sacred St. Peter’s Basilica, just moments before the funeral service began.
Trump and Zelensky discuss peace talks inside Vatican ahead of Pope's funeral
While the meeting had not been publicly announced beforehand, the 2 leaders engaged in a one-on-one conversation without aides, amid the global pressure to find a resolution to the war.
Ukaranian President Zelensky thanked Donald Trump for their meeting in the Vatican. Photo: Zelensky's X account
Zelensky was hopeful to find common ground, and highlighted the importance of a full ceasefire and long-term peace. "We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered,” said Zelensky on social media. This is Trump and Zelensky's first meeting since their eventful meeting in February; in which the Trump administration berated the Ukrainian president for not being "grateful" enough.
Trump’s peace strategy and Zelensky’s diplomatic efforts
While, Trump believes the conflict could finalize soon with a deal, Zelensky cautioned that progress will only depend on how many concessions Russia makes, particularly regarding a full ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine.
The proposed "Ukraine Deal Framework" is currently facing difficulties as Crimea remains a sticking point. While Zelensky rejected the idea of recognizing Russian control over Crimea, Trump has indicated his frustration with the slow-moving talks.