On April 26, during the solemn occasion of Pope Francis' funeral at the Vatican, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski engaged in a brief yet meaningful private meeting in Rome. This interaction, which lasted about 15 minutes, took place inside St. Peter's Basilica before the commencement of the funeral service.
The Ukrainian presidency confirmed the gathering and released images showing French President Emmanuel Macron also engaging in dialogue with the two leaders within the corridors of the sacred site. Through his official X account, Zelenski described the meeting positively, saying: "Good meeting. We discussed many issues face to face. I anticipate outcomes in all we addressed: safeguarding our people's lives, achieving a complete and unconditional ceasefire, and establishing a reliable, lasting peace to prevent the outbreak of another war. It was a very symbolic encounter, with the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results."
Official sources noted that both presidents' teams are working to arrange a second meeting this Saturday in Rome, where Trump and Zelenski remain following the funeral. The image of Trump and Zelenski conversing in a respectful and diplomatic manner at the Vatican, just prior to Pope Francis' funeral, projected a message of potential de-escalation amidst one of the most prolonged and bloodiest conflicts in recent history.
Key Insights on Trump and Zelenski's Meeting in Rome
What was the purpose of the meeting between Trump and Zelenski in Rome?
The meeting aimed to discuss issues such as safeguarding lives, achieving a complete and unconditional ceasefire, and establishing lasting peace to prevent future conflicts.
Where did the meeting between Trump and Zelenski take place?
The meeting took place inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, just before the funeral of Pope Francis.