Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump inside St Peter’s Basilica ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral. The White House called the 15-minute discussion “very productive,” while Zelensky described it as “very symbolic” with the potential to be historic.
The meeting occurred just after Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal,” following discussions involving his envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky expressed hope for meaningful outcomes from their discussions.Posting on social media, Zelensky said they’d had a “good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one”, adding that he hoped for results on everything they had said
He said it was a “very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”.
It was the first meeting since Trump and Zelenskyy’s February clash in the Oval Office concerning a peace settlement with Russia’s war.
Zelensky noted they talked extensively and expressed hope for positive outcomes from their discussions.
Trump attended the funeral with First Lady Melania Trump, seated near French President Emmanuel Macron for the ceremony honoring the late pope.
