Meeting at St. Peter’s Basilica

In a significant diplomatic encounter, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met privately at St. Peter’s Basilica, just before the funeral of Pope Francis.

French President Emmanuel Macron was also present and spoke with both leaders shortly before their private meeting, as noted in a video shared by White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino.

Outcomes of the Meeting

According to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, the discussion was described as “very productive,” with further details expected to be released to the public soon.

“Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy later stated on his social media platform, expressing hope for achieving results that would protect the lives of Ukrainians and establish a reliable and lasting peace.

Context of the Meeting

This encounter marked the first meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy since a previous contentious discussion in the Oval Office earlier in the year.

Late the previous day, following discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump had expressed optimism regarding negotiations, indicating that both sides appeared close to a deal.

“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to finish it off,” Trump posted on his social media, suggesting a positive shift in dialogue.

Trump’s Reflections on the Conflict

After meeting with Zelenskyy, Trump took to his platform, Truth Social, to address the ongoing violence in Ukraine. He remarked that there is “no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas” and indicated concerns about the intentions behind the continued conflict.

“Too many people are dying!!!” Trump emphasized in his post, stressing the need for urgent action to end the war.

Funeral Observations

During the funeral ceremony for Pope Francis, both leaders were positioned within close proximity of each other, although separated by several attendees. The event saw participation from world leaders, including former U.S. President Joe Biden and former First Lady Jill Biden.