Trump and Zelenskiy hold 'productive' meeting at Vatican on Ukraine conflict, plan follow-up talks

VATICAN CITY, April 26 — U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a “very productive” meeting today in Rome, according to a White House official, as both leaders attended Pope Francis’s funeral.

A spokesperson for Zelenskyy’s office said the two presidents met for about 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica and agreed to schedule a second meeting later in the day. Their teams are currently working out the details.

This encounter at the Vatican marks their first meeting since a tense Oval Office exchange in Washington in February and comes at a pivotal moment in negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

"President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very productive discussion. More details about the meeting will be shared," said Steven Cheung, White House communications director.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, described the conversation as “constructive” in a social media post.

Photos released by Zelenskyy’s office showed the two leaders seated across from one another in a marble-lined hall, leaning in close as they spoke, with no aides present. Another image captured Zelenskyy, Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron standing together, with Macron resting a hand on Zelenskyy’s shoulder.

Trump, who has been advocating for a ceasefire, said on Friday that talks between his envoy and Russian officials had been productive and called for a high-level meeting between Kyiv and Moscow to finalize an agreement.

However, he warned that if progress stalls, his administration might withdraw its efforts to broker a peace deal.

Territorial Disputes

Recent rounds of shuttle diplomacy have revealed growing rifts between Washington’s approach and the positions of Ukraine and its European allies, according to documents from the talks reviewed by Reuters.

The U.S. has proposed legally recognizing Crimea — annexed by Russia in 2014 — as Russian territory, a concession Kyiv and its European partners have firmly rejected.

Other points of contention include the timeline for lifting sanctions on Russia, the security guarantees for Ukraine, and the extent of financial compensation for Kyiv.

Trump and Zelenskyy have had a strained relationship. During their February Oval Office meeting, Trump accused Zelenskyy of "gambling with World War Three."

Since then, Kyiv has attempted to mend ties, though tensions remain. Zelenskyy has said Trump is caught in a “disinformation bubble” favorable to Moscow, while Trump has criticized Zelenskyy for delaying a peace deal and making "inflammatory" remarks.

Despite their differences, both leaders have strong incentives to cooperate: Trump needs Zelenskyy’s support to secure a peace agreement, and Kyiv relies on Trump to pressure Moscow into softening its demands.

During the Oval Office meeting, a conservative U.S. news network reporter criticized Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit, noting it as a sign of disrespect. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy has opted for military-style attire as a show of solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers.

At today’s meeting in Rome, Zelenskyy again chose not to wear a suit, donning a dark button-up shirt and a military-style jacket. — Reuters