U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, met one-on-one in a marble-lined Vatican basilica on Saturday to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia's war with Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said the meeting could prove historic if it delivers the kind of peace he is hoping for, and a White House spokesman called it "very productive".
The two leaders, leaning in close to each other with no aides around them while seated in St Peter's Basilica, spoke for about 15 minutes, according to Zelenskyy's office, which also released photographs of the meeting.
The meeting at the Vatican, their first since an angry encounter in the Oval Office in Washington in February, comes at a critical time in negotiations aimed at bringing an end to fighting between Ukraine and Russia.
In a post on social media platform Telegram, Zelenskyy wrote: "Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot. We hope for a result from all the things that were spoken about."
He said those topics included: "The protection of the lives of our people. A complete and unconditional ceasefire. A reliable and lasting peace that will prevent a recurrence of war."
Zelenskyy added: "It was a very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results. Thank you, President Donald Trump!"
Steven Cheung, White House communications director, said the two leaders had met privately and had "a very productive discussion. More details about the meeting will follow".
A Zelenskyy spokesman had earlier said aides to the two leaders were working on arrangements for a follow-up meeting in Rome later on Saturday. However, Trump's aircraft departed Rome with no word on the second meeting. It was not clear if it had taken place.
In one photograph released by Zelenskyy's office, the Ukrainian and U.S. leaders sat opposite each other in a hall of the basilica, around two feet apart, and were leaning in towards each other in conversation. No aides could be seen in the image.
In a second photograph, from the same location, Zelenskyy, Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were shown standing in a tight huddle. Macron had his hand on Zelenskyy's shoulder.
After Trump and Zelenskyy met in the basilica, the two men joined other world leaders outside in Saint Peter's Square at the funeral service for Pope Francis, who made the pursuit of peace, including in Ukraine, a motif of his papacy.
Italian Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who gave the sermon at the funeral service, recalled how Pope Francis did not stop raising his voice to call for negotiations to end conflicts.
"War always leaves the world worse than it was before: it is always a painful and tragic defeat for everyone," the cardinal said.
Trump, who has been pressing both sides to agree a ceasefire, said on Friday that there had been productive talks between his envoy and the Russian leadership in Moscow, and called for a high-level meeting between Kyiv and Moscow to close a deal.
Trump had previously warned his administration would walk away from its efforts to achieve a peace if the two sides do not agree a deal soon.
After a round of shuttle diplomacy this week, differences have emerged between the position of the Trump White House on peace talks and the stance of Ukraine and its European allies, according to documents from the talks obtained by Reuters.
Washington is proposing a legal recognition that Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014, is Russian territory, something that Kyiv and its allies in Europe say is a red line they will not cross.
There are also differences on how quickly sanctions on Russia would be lifted if a peace deal was signed, what kind of security guarantees Ukraine would have, and how Ukraine would be financially compensated.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
15 Comments
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JJE
Trump is spot on - Crimea is not going back to the Ukraine. This is just a simple, provable reality. They never really ever had control of it, being a former Autonomous Republic. The post 2014 coup regime certainly never had administration over it.
And no one in recorded human history has heard of an "unconditional ceasefire". It's a warped phrase designed for gaslighting, so it's positive to see no mention of it in this article.
isabelle
"Trump, who has been pressing Ukraine to accept a completely unjust loss of territory -- in direct contravention of the UN Charter -- whilst offering Putin essentially whatever he wants"
...
https://legal.un.org/repertory/art2.shtml
3. All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.
4. All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.
isabelle
By saying "going back," you are implicitly acknowledging that Crimea actually does belong to Ukraine.
I thought the official Kremlin line was that Crimea had "always been part of Russia?"
Your Tsar Putin will be disappointed in yet another slip from you.
Yrral
Their nothing redeeming about Trump and the people that support him
Blacklabel
now if he can just get to signing that overdue minerals deal we can get somewhere.
Yrral
Blacklabel, Trump is empty suit
BertieWooster
Following the stories on this topic is a bit like watching a professional wrestling match. It's all decided beforehand.
geronimo2006
Wouldn't read too much into this impromptu meeting because Trump may not even remember it tomorrow. Or maybe he will think he talked to Xi. The sad reality for Ukraine is Trump and his amatuerish negotiator are a mockery while at the same time being manipulated by Putin, and I think they soon try to give Russia not only Crimea but also sanctions relief. Ukraine can and should try to resist, but I think it will only be in vain. Trump is a very useful idiot, and Putin must be laughing his head off.
Tokyo Guy
I've always admired Zelenskyy, for many reasons, one of which is his self control. Even after the sheer disrespect shown to him at the White House and the blatantly pro-Russian behaviour of Trump and his so-called diplomatic team, Zelenskyy won't rise to the bait.
The history books are going to have very different things to say about these two.
OssanAmerica
Can't see that being negotiated without a regime change in Russia.
Pukey2
Zelensky needs to realize that beggars can't be choosers. If he doesn't stop all this nonsense and dragging more Ukrainian men off the streets and sending them to their deaths, then he may find Ukraine cut off completely from Russian Odesa and the Black Sea.
Blacklabel
Can't see that being negotiated without a regime change in Ukraine.
OssanAmerica
A regime change in Ukraine won't change anything, they are the ones being invaded.
A regime change in Russia could change everything, they are the invaders.
I think a 4th grader could figure that out.
bass4funk
Actually, it’s the other way around
Not pro, but Zelenskyy doesn’t have a pot to whizz in
Let’s see
We shall see
Peter14
Good that they managed to talk alone without distraction or interruption for 15 minutes.
Trump has to return to the position that Ukraine territory is not up for grabs. The US is a permanent member of the UNSC and must be one of the pillars upholding the UN charter that borders will not alter by warfare. If it doesnt do that it does not deserve a place on the UNSC.
Russia must be given an ultimatum by the UN that if it wants to keep Crimea, it loses its place on the UNSC. There are other nations able to take their place, and that have lobbied for a place at that table like Japan, Germany, India and Brazil just to name 4.
If the UN does not back up its charter then its charter is meaningless and nobody will follow it. When it comes to crunch time they either stand or fall regarding their rules of membership. No point having an organization to assist the world if they cant see it through. It would be time to end the UN and design a modern equivalent that works.