Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a private meeting on this Saturday at Pope Francis’s funeral, marking their first face-to-face interaction since their heated argument at the White House in February. According to Zelenskyy’s office, the two leaders spoke for approximately 15 minutes inside St Peter’s Basilica. A photograph released by his team showed both men leaning forward in serious conversation, seemingly without any aides nearby. The White House later characterized the meeting as “productive,” while Ukraine’s President posted on X, thanking his American counterpart for a "good

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a private meeting on this Saturday at Pope Francis’s funeral, marking their first face-to-face interaction since their heated argument at the White House in February. According to Zelenskyy’s office, the two leaders spoke for approximately 15 minutes inside St Peter’s Basilica. A photograph released by his team showed both men leaning forward in serious conversation, seemingly without any aides nearby. The White House later characterized the meeting as “productive,” while Ukraine’s President posted on X, thanking his American counterpart for a "good meeting." “We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Hoping for results on everything we covered: protecting lives of our people, achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire, and establishing a reliable and lasting peace to prevent future wars. A very symbolic meeting that could become historic if we succeed in reaching joint outcomes.” Zelenskyy’s office also indicated that the two leaders agreed to meet again later that same day. Leaders and dignitaries from around the world have gathered in Rome throughout the week, following Pope Francis’s passing on Monday. The conversation between Trump and Zelenskyy appeared particularly personal, taking place just beyond the towering doors of the basilica, while thousands mourned in St Peter’s Square outside. This intimate setting contrasted sharply with their previous meeting in Washington, D.C., where a fiery dispute led to Zelenskyy’s abrupt departure from the White House. That Oval Office meeting, conducted in front of cameras and both delegations, had seen Trump, Zelenskyy, and U.S. Vice President JD Vance clash over aid and political expectations. The much-anticipated minerals agreement—designed to grant the U.S. access to Ukraine’s rich natural resources in exchange for military and financial assistance—ultimately fell apart and was never finalized. During that encounter, Trump bluntly told Zelenskyy he lacked “the cards” necessary to withstand Russia’s full-scale invasion, which had begun in February 2022. Vice President Vance further criticized the Ukrainian leader, accusing him of insufficient gratitude for the billions of dollars in American support provided. Tensions between the two nations have remained high ever since. Saturday’s dialogue between Trump and Zelenskyy comes against the backdrop of drawn-out U.S.-led efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Frustrations within the Biden administration have grown as progress has stalled, although Trump struck a more optimistic tone after arriving in Rome. Posting to his Truth Social platform, Trump declared: “A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off.'" This shift represents a notable change in rhetoric. Just days earlier, Vice President Vance had warned that the U.S. might abandon negotiations if Kyiv and Moscow failed to make necessary compromises—a threat echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Throughout his presidency, Trump has criticized Zelenskyy repeatedly, even promoting a baseless Kremlin narrative that Ukraine had instigated the war. He has also emphasized his desire to improve relations with Russia, although earlier this week he issued a public plea for restraint. On Thursday, Trump posted: “I am not happy with the Russian attacks on Kiev. Unnecessary, and at a very bad time. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers are dying every week. Let's get the peace deal done!" Current drafts of the U.S.-backed peace plan reportedly involve freezing the current battlefield lines and recognizing Crimea—a region seized by Russia in 2014—as Russian territory. However, President Zelenskyy has consistently rejected such proposals, stating they would be unacceptable deal-breakers for Ukraine. For several weeks now, American officials have been holding separate meetings with Ukrainian and Russian representatives. Yet, direct communication between Kyiv and Moscow has been nonexistent since the initial phase of Russia’s invasion. In addition to his meeting with Trump, Zelenskyy’s office released images of him in conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron during the events in Rome.

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