Vatican City: U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met privately on Saturday inside St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, seeking to reignite stalled efforts to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Both leaders were in Rome to attend the funeral service of Pope Francis.
Zelenskiy described the meeting as potentially “historic” if it leads to the kind of peace he envisions, while a White House spokesperson hailed the discussion as “very productive”.
The two leaders, without any aides present, leaned in closely as they spoke for approximately 15 minutes in a marble-lined hall of the basilica, according to Zelenskiy’s office. Official photographs shared by both Kyiv and Washington captured the rare moment.
US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy met one-on-one while in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. The two leaders spoke for about 15 minutes, leaning in close to each other with no aides around them https://t.co/L9OIPZas9E pic.twitter.com/idU3jk9tEx
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 27, 2025
This face-to-face conversation marked their first encounter since a tense meeting at the White House in February, underlining the significance of their Vatican dialogue amid critical negotiations to bring an end to the war.
After the funeral ceremony, Trump immediately departed Rome aboard Air Force One. While in the air, he posted a sharp message on Truth Social, criticizing recent Russian missile strikes.
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump wrote, referencing a deadly Russian missile strike in Kyiv that killed twelve people on Thursday. He continued, “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 statement, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham announced that the U.S. Senate was prepared to advance bipartisan legislation imposing trade sanctions on countries that continue purchasing Russian oil, gas, and other goods. “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.
Trump’s remarks represented a notable shift from his earlier rhetoric, where he had been more critical of Zelenskiy and relatively conciliatory toward Putin.
On Telegram, Zelenskiy praised the private Vatican meeting: “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 emphasized the key discussion points: “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 concluded, “It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results. Thank you, President Donald Trump!”
No Aides Present
Photographs released after the meeting showed Trump and Zelenskiy sitting just two feet apart, engrossed in conversation, with no staff members in sight. Another image depicted the two leaders alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, standing closely together, with Macron placing a supportive hand on Zelenskiy’s shoulder.
Following their private discussion, Trump and Zelenskiy joined other global leaders at the open-air funeral mass for Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Square. Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, delivering the funeral sermon, underscored Pope Francis’s consistent 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.
Deep Divisions Over Key Issues
Despite the symbolic nature of the Vatican meeting, serious policy divisions remain. Trump has been pushing both Kyiv and Moscow toward a ceasefire and peace agreement, warning that his administration could withdraw from the peace process if progress stalls.
According to documents obtained by Reuters, sharp differences have emerged between Washington’s proposals and the positions of Ukraine and its European allies. Notably, the Trump administration has floated the idea of legally recognizing Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, as Russian territory — a move firmly rejected by Kyiv and European capitals.
Other contentious points include the timeline for lifting sanctions on Russia, the type of security guarantees Ukraine would receive, and the framework for financial compensation for war damages.
A Complex Relationship
Trump and Zelenskiy’s personal rapport has been rocky. Their Oval Office meeting earlier this year was marked by sharp exchanges, with Trump accusing Zelenskiy of “gambling with World War Three.” Although Kyiv has since worked to improve relations, mutual criticisms have continued. Zelenskiy previously accused Trump of operating inside a “disinformation bubble” favoring Moscow, while Trump has labeled Zelenskiy’s peace efforts as sluggish and inflammatory.
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Yet both leaders recognize the strategic necessity of cooperation. Trump needs Zelenskiy’s engagement to realize his ambition of brokering a swift peace, while Ukraine relies on Trump to exert pressure on Moscow to soften its demands.
A Symbolic Appearance
During Saturday’s funeral, Zelenskiy continued his tradition of military-inspired dress, wearing a dark shirt buttoned to the neck under a dark jacket, eschewing a traditional suit. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskiy has maintained his military-style wardrobe to demonstrate solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers.
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In contrast to the criticism he faced for his attire during the Oval Office meeting, this time Zelenskiy’s appearance seemed to align with the solemnity of the moment — and the seriousness of the discussions underway.
