Donald Trump has criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin and hinted at a change in his stance towards Moscow after holding a one-on-one meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral.
The Ukrainian president described the talks as “historic,” with images showing the pair sitting just two feet apart inside a grand marble hall at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Following the funeral service, Mr. Trump posted on Truth Social, questioning whether Mr. Putin truly intends to end the war in Ukraine.
In his post, the US president said there was “no reason” for Russia’s missile attacks on civilian areas in recent days, adding, “Maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war and needs to be dealt with differently — through banking or secondary sanctions? Too many people are dying!”
The meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelenskyy since a public clash in the Oval Office earlier this year.
According to Ukrainian officials, discussions focused on achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire and establishing a lasting peace.
Other images shared by Ukraine’s presidential office showed UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron present during parts of the discussions, which the French presidency later described as “positive.”
Mr. Zelenskyy’s spokesman confirmed the meeting lasted about 15 minutes, with both leaders agreeing to hold further discussions later that day.
However, President Trump departed Rome shortly after the funeral aboard Air Force One, and no additional talks were held.
Ukraine’s presidential office said a second meeting was not possible due to the tight schedules of both leaders. Mr. Zelenskyy also held separate discussions with Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron.
In a statement posted to X, President Macron said, “Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire,” and stressed that France and the UK would continue leading efforts toward a durable peace settlement.
Applause broke out among the world leaders attending the funeral when Mr. Zelenskyy stopped in front of Pope Francis’s coffin to pay his respects.
Sir Tony Brenton, former British ambassador to Russia, told Sky News the event provided a significant diplomatic opportunity, calling the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting “an important step” towards potential peace.
Speaking to Sky News, Professor Father Francesco Giordano said some clergy members were already calling the meeting “Pope Francis’s miracle,” describing the atmosphere as “overwhelming.”
The meeting came after Trump’s peace negotiator, Steve Witkoff, held separate talks with President Putin at the Kremlin.
According to Russian officials, they discussed possibilities for resuming direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, which have remained frozen since early 2022.
Mr. Trump recently claimed that a peace deal is “very close,” urging both Russia and Ukraine to come to an agreement swiftly. He warned that if talks fail, his administration could pull back from its mediation efforts.
Meanwhile, tensions flared in Eastern Europe as Poland’s armed forces reported a Russian military helicopter violated its airspace over the Baltic Sea. In a post on X, Polish officials said the incident appeared to be a test of their air defense readiness.
M10News will continue to provide updates as developments unfold.
Reported by an M10News Reporter | M10News.com
