U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt on Russian President Vladimir Putin's intent to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine following a meeting with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in Rome. This encounter took place during the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Expressing his concerns on his Truth Social platform, Trump condemned recent Russian bombings on civilian areas in Kyiv. He argued that there was no justification for such attacks and expressed worry that Putin might be "playing" him instead of earnestly seeking a negotiated end to the war.
"I'm just trying to clean up the mess left by Obama and Biden, and what a mess it is. That being said, there was no reason for Putin to be launching missiles at civilian areas, cities, and towns in recent days. It makes me think he may not want to end the war; he might just be stringing me along, and that needs to be addressed differently, maybe through 'banking sanctions' or 'secondary sanctions'?" Trump stated in his post.
The brief 15-minute meeting between Trump and Zelensky, held at St. Peter's Basilica prior to the funeral, was described as "very productive" by the White House. Zelensky mentioned the potential for it to become a "historic" encounter. This marked the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since their tense exchange at the White House in February.
During their discussion, Trump reiterated his belief that Ukraine "had no cards to play" in negotiations with Russia. Although he had recently hinted at progress towards a possible agreement following his special envoy's contacts with Putin, his latest remarks highlighted skepticism about Moscow's genuine willingness to achieve peace. Meanwhile, according to the BBC, the Kremlin reiterated its openness to engage in talks "without preconditions."
Images from the meeting show Trump and Zelensky in focused conversation, accompanied by leaders such as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who reportedly played a role in facilitating the dialogue.
Following his meeting with Trump, Zelensky held bilateral talks with Macron, Starmer, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. European leaders emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum towards a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine.
While Trump has suggested that Ukraine should consider territorial concessions as part of a peace deal, Zelensky has firmly rejected this idea. However, he has recently hinted that a "total and unconditional ceasefire" could open up new opportunities for dialogue.
Questions on Trump's Meeting with Zelensky and Ukraine's Peace Process
What concerns did Trump express about Putin after meeting with Zelensky?
Trump expressed concerns that Putin might not be genuinely interested in ending the conflict in Ukraine and could be misleading him. He criticized recent Russian attacks on civilian areas in Kyiv.
How did the White House describe Trump's meeting with Zelensky?
The White House described the meeting as "very productive" and noted its potential to become a historic encounter between the two leaders.
What stance has Zelensky taken on territorial concessions?
Zelensky has firmly rejected the idea of making territorial concessions as part of a peace deal with Russia, though he has hinted at the possibility of a total and unconditional ceasefire opening new dialogue opportunities.