Background and Context
The United States President, Donald Trump, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in person at the Vatican on Saturday to discuss efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. This meeting marks their first face-to-face encounter since their heated exchange in the Oval Office of Washington in February.
Meeting Details
The meeting took place in a marble-clad basilica, where the two leaders engaged in a 15-minute conversation while seated in St. Peter’s Basilica, as reported by Zelensky’s office and supported by shared photographs.
Zelensky described the meeting as potentially historic, stating that they discussed “protecting the lives of our people, a full and unconditional ceasefire, as well as reliable and lasting peace that would prevent the recurrence of war.”
Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, confirmed the private meeting and described it as “very productive,” promising further details about the encounter.
Potential for Follow-up Meeting
Earlier, a representative of Zelensky mentioned that collaborators from both leaders’ sides were arranging for a follow-up meeting in Rome later on Saturday.
Photographs released by Zelensky’s office show the leaders seated facing each other in a basillica room, approximately half a meter apart and leaning towards one another during their conversation. No advisors were visible in the images.
In a second photo, Zelensky, Trump, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron are seen standing close together. Macron is seen with his hand on Zelensky’s shoulder.
Symbolism and Peace Advocacy
Following their meeting in the basilica, Trump and Zelensky joined other global leaders at St. Peter’s Square for the late Pope Francis’ funeral, where peace—including in Ukraine—was emphasized as a central theme.
Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, who delivered the sermon at the funeral, reminded the audience of Pope Francis’s unwavering advocacy for conflict resolution through negotiations.
“War always leaves the world worse off than before; it is a painful and tragic loss for everyone,” said Cardinal Re.
Differences in Territorial Stances
Trump, who has been urging both sides to agree on a ceasefire, stated on Friday that productive conversations had taken place between his envoy and Russian leaders in Moscow. He called for a high-level meeting between Kyiv and Moscow to finalize an agreement.
Previously, Trump had warned that the U.S. would withdraw from peace efforts if both parties did not reach an agreement soon.
After a week of diplomatic efforts, discrepancies have emerged between Trump’s stance on peace talks and that of Ukraine and its European allies, as per Reuters-obtained conversation documents.
Washington proposes legally recognizing Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula annexed by Russia in 2014, as Russian territory. Kyiv and its European allies, however, consider this a red line they won’t cross.
There are also disagreements on the speed of sanctions removal against Russia if a peace agreement is signed, security guarantees for Ukraine, and economic compensation for the country.
Personal and Political Relationship
Trump and Zelensky have had a tumultuous personal relationship. During their White House meeting, Trump accused Zelensky of “playing with the Third World War.”
Since then, Kyiv has attempted to mend relations, though the insults have persisted. Zelensky has stated that Trump is trapped in a “bubble of misinformation” favoring Moscow, while Trump has accused Zelensky of delaying a peace agreement and making “inflammatory” statements.
Despite their strained relationship, both leaders require each other’s support. Trump needs Zelensky’s backing to achieve his declared ambition of swift peace between Russia and Ukraine, while Kyiv needs Trump to pressure Moscow into softening some of its stringent conditions for a truce.
The February White House meeting, attended by a conservative U.S. news network journalist, saw Trump criticize Zelensky for not wearing a suit.
Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in 2022, Zelensky has abandoned suits in favor of military-style attire, claiming it demonstrates solidarity with compatriots defending Ukraine.
On Saturday in Rome, Zelensky again opted out of a suit, wearing a dark shirt with a military-style jacket instead.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the purpose of the meeting between Trump and Zelensky? The primary goal was to discuss efforts aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
- Where did the meeting take place? The face-to-face encounter occurred in St. Peter’s Basilica within the Vatican.
- What were the key topics discussed? Zelensky mentioned protecting lives, a full and unconditional ceasefire, and lasting peace to prevent future conflicts.
- How have their relationship and communication been characterized? Their relationship has been described as tumultuous, with public criticisms exchanged between the two leaders.
- What are the main differences in stances between Trump and Zelensky regarding peace negotiations? Differences include recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, the pace of sanctions removal, security guarantees for Ukraine, and economic compensation.
