U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met privately for about 15 minutes at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday and agreed to meet again later the same day for further discussions, according to a spokesperson for Zelenskiy.
Photos released by the Ukrainian president’s office showed the two leaders seated across from each other in a marble hall, with no aides present. Another image captured Trump and Zelenskiy in a close discussion with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.
Productive talks B/W Trump and Zelensky
Earlier in the day, both leaders described their meeting as a “very productive” conversation focused on ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The brief but significant meeting, held ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis, marked the first face-to-face encounter between the two leaders since a highly charged Oval Office meeting in Washington earlier this year. According to a spokesperson for Zelenskiy, the leaders have agreed to hold a follow-up session later the same day.
“This was a very productive discussion,” said Steven Cheung, White House communications director. “More details about the meeting will follow.”
The meeting comes at a delicate point in efforts to broker a ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow. While Trump has positioned himself as a key broker for peace, proposing accelerated talks and the possibility of a high-level Kyiv-Moscow summit, substantial differences remain, particularly over the status of Crimea.
Oval Office meeting controversy
In February’s Oval Office meeting, Trump accused Zelenskiy of “gambling with World War Three.” Zelenskiy later shot back, saying Trump was “trapped in a disinformation bubble.” Yet, both leaders recognize the strategic importance of bridging their differences.
(With AP Inputs)