Trump and Zelensky Have “Very Productive” Conversations Inside St. Peter’s Before Pope Francis’ Funeral

At Pope Francis’ funeral, Trump and Zelensky met for the first time since their confrontation in the Oval Office and had “very productive” discussions.

Ahead of Pope Francis’ burial, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met inside St. Peter’s Basilica. 

The 15-minute conversation was deemed “very productive” by the White House, and a Ukrainian spokeswoman confirmed that the two will meet again later on Saturday. 

Just minutes before the burial service started, Trump and Zelensky were seen having a lengthy conversation. According to Zelensky, “if we achieve joint results, the meeting has potential to become historic.” 

“I’m hoping for results on everything we covered,” he continued. defending our people’s life. complete and unqualified cessation of hostilities. enduring and dependable peace that will stop another conflict from starting. Zelensky thanked the US president as he concluded his post on X. 

Following discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, Trump said on Friday that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal.” 
Andriy Yermak, the head of office for the Ukrainian leader, posted a picture of Zelensky sitting with Trump and added the word “constructive” to it. 

Since their tense meeting in the Oval Office at the end of February, when Trump informed Zelensky that he was losing and that “you don’t have the cards,” the two leaders had not met. This week, he reiterated his statement that the Ukrainian leader had “no cards to play.” 

Images showed Zelensky in a black shirt and pants and Trump in a blue suit sitting across from each other, engaged in heated discussion. The Ukrainian delegation also posted a picture of the two men standing next to France’s Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer, with Macron’s hand on Zelensky’s shoulder, implying that they were helping to arrange the meeting. 

Additional information regarding the private meeting in Vatican City will be released later, according to White House communications director Steven Cheung. 

Following the meeting, Zelensky and Trump went down the stairs of the basilica and sat in the same row. Macron and other heads of state were seated between them during the service, with them sitting a short distance apart. 

Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re recalled Pope Francis’s message in his sermon, saying, “He repeatedly emphasized the importance of building bridges rather than walls.” 

Following a fourth visit this year, Trump’s envoy Witkoff left Moscow on Friday following three hours of discussions that Putin aide Yuri Ushakov called “very useful.” With special attention to the “possibility of resuming direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives,” Ushakov said the talks had “brought the Russian and US positions closer together, not just on Ukraine but also on a range of other international issues.” 

The discussions on Saturday were the first time Trump and Zelensky had met in person since their historic altercation in the Oval Office in February. 

Trump accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three” during that contentious exchange by opposing ceasefire proposals spearheaded by Washington. 

Trump has reportedly put more pressure on Kyiv to make territorial concessions, including giving up the Crimean peninsula, which Russia unlawfully annexed in 2014. 

Despite his repeated rejection of such notions, Zelensky told the BBC on Friday that “a full and unconditional ceasefire opens up the possibility to discuss everything.”