U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met privately at the Vatican on Saturday during the funeral of Pope Francis, seeking to revive stalled peace talks with Russia. The 15-minute one-on-one, held in St. Peter’s Basilica without aides, was described by Zelenskiy as potentially "historic" and by the White House as "very productive."
The meeting marks their first encounter since a tense February exchange in Washington and comes at a crucial moment for efforts to end the war. Trump later posted a tough message on Truth Social, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin's missile strikes on Ukrainian civilians and suggesting new banking or secondary sanctions.
Following Trump's remarks, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham indicated bipartisan support in the Senate for sanctions targeting countries purchasing Russian exports unless Moscow pursues "an honorable, just and enduring peace."
Photos showed Trump and Zelenskiy engaged in close conversation and later standing alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Discussions reportedly covered securing a complete ceasefire and building a lasting peace.
However, gaps remain. Documents show Washington is proposing to legally recognize Crimea as Russian territory—an idea firmly rejected by Kyiv and its European allies. Disagreements also persist over sanctions relief timing, Ukraine’s security guarantees, and compensation terms.
Despite a strained relationship, Trump and Zelenskiy now find themselves mutually dependent: Trump seeks Zelenskiy's cooperation for a peace deal, while Ukraine needs Trump's influence to soften Russia’s demands.
As a symbol of wartime solidarity, Zelenskiy again opted for military-style attire at the Vatican, underscoring his commitment to Ukraine’s ongoing defense.