Trump, Zelensky brainstorm during Pope Francis’s funeral

United States president, Donald Trump, and his counterpart from Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky held a brief meeting on Saturday during the funeral of Pope Francis, according to aides from both sides, marking their first encounter since a tense White House confrontation.

The US president has been urging the Ukrainian leader to reach a peace settlement with Russia.

At St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Trump mingled with dozens of world leaders, many eager to discuss the sweeping tariffs he has recently introduced among other pressing issues. However, it was his interaction with Zelensky that captured the most attention, as Trump continues to press Ukraine towards negotiating peace with Russia.

A spokesman for the Ukrainian presidency confirmed the meeting, which took place shortly before the funeral began.”The meeting took place and is already over,” Zelensky’s spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov told reporters, offering no additional details.

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White House communications director Steven Cheung also confirmed the encounter, describing it as “a very productive discussion” and noting that more information would be released later.

Both leaders, accompanied by their wives, sat in the front row during the funeral service in St Peter’s Square, separated by nearly a dozen other dignitaries. Zelensky was seen glancing toward Trump, though the two were not observed speaking publicly.

Before the funeral, officials on both sides had kept plans for a possible meeting vague. Trump had only stated that a conversation was “possible.”

Relations between the two leaders have been fraught since Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky during a February 28 Oval Office meeting, accusing him of ingratitude despite the substantial US military aid provided since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Rome on April 25, Trump addressed the ongoing war, criticizing Zelensky while still calling on Vladimir Putin to halt Russian attacks on Ukraine.Russia’s large-scale invasion, launched in February 2022, reignited conflict across Europe unseen for decades.

In addition to urging peace, Trump has pressured Zelensky to consider controversial concessions, including recognizing Crimea—which Russia annexed in 2014—as permanently under Moscow’s control as part of any future settlement.

After arriving in Rome late Friday, Trump expressed optimism about negotiations, suggesting the Russian and Ukrainian leaders should meet soon.”They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off’,” he posted on his Truth Social platform.”Most of the major points are agreed to,” he added.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the potential for direct talks with Ukraine during a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff. Zelensky, however, reiterated Ukraine’s refusal to concede Crimea.

Witkoff’s discussion with Putin came amid heightened tensions following the death of a top Russian general in a car bombing near Moscow.

Expressing his growing impatience, Trump last week warned he might abandon efforts to broker peace if no progress is made towards a ceasefire.

Trump has previously claimed he could end the war within 24 hours if re-elected, though he admitted in a recent Time magazine interview that he had been speaking “in jest.”

Limited Engagements
Trump’s trip to Rome, accompanied by First Lady Melania Trump, marked his first foreign visit since beginning his second presidential term. The funeral brought together around 50 heads of state, 10 monarchs, and Britain’s Prince William.

Trump’s visit also came shortly after he unsettled European allies by implementing extensive tariffs, although he has since softened his stance on some measures.

During his visit, Trump was seen shaking hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and greeting French President Emmanuel Macron. Many other leaders approached Trump upon his arrival.

Notably absent from Trump’s interactions was former President Joe Biden, who attended the funeral independently with his wife, Jill. Biden, sitting five rows behind Trump, has been a frequent target of Trump’s criticism.

Traditionally, US presidents have traveled to papal funerals alongside their predecessors aboard Air Force One, but this time Trump traveled alone.

Ahead of the event, Trump emphasized that any diplomatic engagements would be kept brief.”Frankly it’s a little disrespectful to have meetings when you’re at the funeral of the pope,” he said.

The US president was scheduled to return home later Saturday after spending just half a day in Rome.

AFP