IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump openly questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war in Ukraine after a rare, high-stakes meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican. The meeting took place just ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral on April 26, 2025.

Trump said that he doubts Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end his war in Ukraine as the United States is trying to broker peace talks. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump said in a social media post as he flew back to the United States after attending Pope Francis’ funeral at the Vatican.

Trump also hinted at further sanctions against Russia. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote.

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting in Vatican

The meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy, held inside the historic St. Peter’s Basilica, lasted around 15 minutes and was described by the White House as “very productive,” signaling a significant shift in tone compared to their last meeting.

Zelenskyy described it as a “good meeting” that has the “potential to become historic” if results are achieved. The Ukrainian leader said the talks focused on “Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.”

Trump and Zelenskyy meet at the Vatican before Pope Francis’ funeral.

White House described the meeting as “very productive”, while Zelenskyy said talks focused on “full and unconditional ceasefire” and lasting peace. 🇺🇸🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/ylMPhWZUE2

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) April 26, 2025

The brief Trump-Zelenskyy meeting was a glimmer of hope for Ukrainians. Ukrainian economy minister Yulia Svyrydenko called the encounter “a chance to move forward — to build real peace through strength.” She added that only stronger sanctions and pressure on Russia could bring the war to an end.

First meeting after the confrontation

This was their first face-to-face exchange since February’s tense Oval Office confrontation, during which Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy, “You don’t have the cards” to defeat Russia.

Echoing that sentiment, Trump reiterated after their Vatican conversation that Zelenskyy still had “no cards to play,” reflecting a continued skepticism about Ukraine’s battlefield position. Trump has previously blamed Ukraine for prolonging the conflict and accused Zelenskyy of being an obstacle to peace negotiations.f

Despite these tensions, the atmosphere around their brief encounter appeared cautiously optimistic. Two images released by both American and Ukrainian officials showed Trump in a blue suit and Zelenskyy in a black top and trousers, locked in intense discussion.

Another photo, widely shared by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, showed Trump, Zelenskyy, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and French President Emmanuel Macron standing together inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Macron’s hand resting supportively on Zelenskyy’s shoulder suggested European leaders had played a behind-the-scenes role in bringing the two men together.

As the funeral service commenced, Trump and Zelenskyy walked down the basilica’s steps together, drawing applause from the crowd gathered outside. They took seats near each other in the front row, separated by Macron and other world leaders.

Historic funeral

The funeral itself was a historic moment. Pope Francis was mourned by hundreds of thousands gathered in St. Peter’s Square and watched by millions around the world. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivered the homily, emphasizing the late pope’s lifelong mission of peacemaking.

“‘Build bridges, not walls’ was an exhortation he repeated many times,” the cardinal said, a poignant reminder of Francis’s vision for global unity and reconciliation.

Security in Rome was at an unprecedented high, with thousands of police officers, soldiers, and Vatican guards deployed throughout the city. Italian authorities also imposed a temporary no-fly zone over the capital, reflecting concerns about potential security threats given the scale of the event.

Political breakthroughs at the funeral

The significance of Trump and Zelenskyy’s meeting against this solemn backdrop cannot be overstated. Though it remains unclear if the meeting will lead to tangible breakthroughs, it symbolized an important, if tentative, step toward diplomacy.

Trump’s recent comments have introduced new uncertainties, particularly regarding Moscow’s intentions. Only days earlier, Trump had asserted that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal” following three-hour negotiations between Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Putin. The Kremlin confirmed that Putin had expressed readiness to begin direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions.”

Following the funeral, Ukrainian officials suggested the possibility of a second meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy. However, Trump’s motorcade left St. Peter’s almost immediately after the service concluded, and his plane departed Rome shortly afterward. Zelenskyy remained in the city to hold separate discussions with European leaders.

Zelenskyy’s meetings with European leaders

Later that afternoon, Zelenskyy met French President Emmanuel Macron in the garden of Villa Bonaparte, home to the French embassy to the Holy See. Macron, who has often positioned himself as a bridge between Washington and Kyiv, posted afterward that ending the war was an objective “we share in common with President Trump” and emphasized Ukraine’s openness to an “unconditional ceasefire.”

Zelenskyy also met with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador’s residence, where they discussed recent progress toward securing what Downing Street called a “just and lasting peace.” Starmer’s office said both leaders agreed to “maintain momentum” and “speak again at the earliest opportunity.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also met with Zelenskyy during his extended stay, highlighting the coordinated European effort to bolster Ukraine’s diplomatic position following the Vatican meetings. At the Vatican, Zelenskyy also held talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Though many hurdles remain, the brief but symbolically potent encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy has rekindled hopes for new diplomatic efforts. Whether those hopes materialize into concrete outcomes will depend largely on Moscow’s next moves, and on whether Trump’s evolving stance translates into stronger pressure on Russia.

During my meeting with President @EmmanuelMacron, we discussed the path toward a full and unconditional ceasefire and the need to apply pressure on Russia to establish it.

I outlined the consequences of Russian attacks on Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, and Kyiv. To protect the lives of… pic.twitter.com/SITAo1NLBl

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2025