Trump, Zelenskyy hold ‘productive’ meeting at the Vatican

A White House official described the meeting as “very productive” and noted that it was the first since the tense Oval Office meeting in February of this year.

According to Zelenskyy’s office, the two leaders sat down in St. Peter’s Basilica for about 15 minutes before moving on to the meeting photos that Kyiv and Washington released.

“President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very fruitful discussion. Following the meeting, White House communications director Steven Cheung will provide more information.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, described the 15-minute meeting as “constructive,” but he did not provide more details.

The two leaders were present at Pope Francis’ funeral service in the Vatican. Their meeting occurred as the US’s negotiations for a resolution of the Ukraine-Russia conflict grew more difficult.

Trump’s threat of sanctions

Trump boarded Air Force One and left Rome after the funeral service. He published a controversial post on social media where he addressed Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “There was no reason for Putin to have fired missiles at civilian targets, cities, and towns, over the past few days. A Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment block on Thursday left 12 people dead.

“It makes me believe that maybe he doesn’t want to end the war, that he is just teasing me and needs to be handled differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions”?” Too many people are persuading, “! Trump authored .

Trump’s usual rhetoric, which has seen Zelenskyy receive the harshest criticism, was a departure from the post, which he has frequently addressed favorably.

Zelenskyy wrote: “Good meeting. We had a great conversation one-on-one. We hope that all the topics discussed will come to an end.

He claimed that those subjects included: “The protection of our people’s lives.” A total and unwavering ceasefire. A trustworthy, long-lasting peace that will stop war from rekindling.

Zelenskyy continued, “If we get together, it could turn out to be historic.” President Donald Trump, I appreciate it.

No aides are visible.

The meeting’s photos, which were only available to Zelenskyy’s office, provided a rare glimpse into the private conversations. In a previous image, the two leaders were leaning in close as they spoke. They were seated opposite one another in a grand marble hall.

No assistants came up next to them.

The US president, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron are seen in a close-knit image taken in the same setting.

At their most recent meeting, Zelenskyy and Trump both criticized for what they perceived as a lack of gratitude for American support. Zelenskyy was also accused of disrespect by not dressing up, by a US reporter.

Trump, who has urged a direct meeting between Moscow and Kyiv to reach a truce, claimed on Friday that the discussions between his envoy and Russian officials had been fruitful.

However, Kyiv and its European allies’ positions and Washington’s proposals diverge. A US proposal to legalize the designation of Crimea as Russian territory, which Ukraine and other European countries vehemently opposes, is a major sticking point.