After their tense encounter inside the Oval Office on February 28, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met privately at the Vatican on Saturday. The brief but “very productive” conversation took place on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral.
Seated closely together inside St Peter’s Basilica, Trump and Zelenskyy spoke for about 15 minutes. No aides were present and details of their conversation remain scarce. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak called the discussion “constructive”, while Zelenskyy later posted on Telegram, “Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot. We hope for a result from all the things that were spoken about.”
However, it must be noted that much has changed since their February meeting. Trump is hitting out at Vladimir Putin for Russia’s strikes in Ukraine, tariff war between US and China is escalating and the clock is ticking on President Trump’s promise of ending the war after returning to office.
Trump’s tougher tone on Russia
Shortly after the recent meeting, Trump took to his Truth Social platform while aboard Air Force One, issuing a rare rebuke of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns over the last few days,” Trump wrote, referring to a Russian missile strike that killed 12 people in Kyiv last Thursday.
“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!!!” the President added.
This shift in tone is notable, as Trump has previously been reluctant to criticise Putin directly. His toughest remarks have often been aimed at Zelenskyy, making his post a significant departure from his usual rhetoric.
US’ ceasefire proposal to Ukraine
The meeting comes at a time when the US has reportedly proposed a ceasefire plan that would grant Russia control over all Ukrainian territories it has occupied since the war began three years ago. Additionally, the plan includes a major reversal of American policy where it formally recognises Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, as Moscow’s territory.
Zelenskyy has outright rejected the proposal, stating that it would violate Ukraine’s Constitution. European allies are largely aligned with Zelenskyy’s stance, believing that conceding Ukrainian land to Russia would set a dangerous precedent.
According to Ukrainian officials, Zelenskyy has a counterproposal that includes significantly less generous terms for Russia and demands billions of dollars in reparations for Ukraine.
Are rare minerals a key factor in the talks?
Beyond security concerns, economic interests, particularly the control of rare minerals, may be influencing US policy on Ukraine. The US has been in negotiations with Kyiv over a rare minerals agreement that would secure American access to Ukraine’s vast mineral deposits.
Rare minerals are essential for advanced defense technologies, electronics and EVs. However, the US currently relies heavily on China for these resources. Amid rising tensions with Beijing, securing alternative supply chains has become a strategic priority for Washington.
China, which dominates the global rare minerals market, has used its control over these resources as a geopolitical weapon, imposing export restrictions in retaliation for US tariffs. Given these challenges, Trump sees an opportunity to position Ukraine as a critical supplier of rare minerals, reducing US dependency on China and strengthening economic ties with Kyiv.
The Trump-Zelenskyy Vatican meeting, brief as it was, sheds light on the high-stakes nature of ongoing US diplomacy on Ukraine. Whether this conversation paves the way for meaningful negotiations or merely reflects political posturing remains to be seen.