Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump met inside St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral, in what has been described as a pivotal encounter.
The White House called the 15-minute discussion “very productive”, while Zelensky later remarked they had managed to “discuss a lot”. Photographs captured the two leaders deep in conversation just moments before the funeral commenced, each bearing a serious expression.
Trump, dressed in a blue suit, and Zelensky, clad in a black ensemble, sat face-to-face, speaking intently.
First Face-to-Face Since Fiery Oval Office Meeting
This meeting marks the first time the pair have met since their fiery encounter in the Oval Office back in February. At that time, Trump had bluntly told Zelensky he was not winning the war, saying, “you don’t have the cards.”
Earlier this week, Trump reiterated the sentiment, adding that the Ukrainian president still had “no cards to play”. Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky’s office, shared an image of the meeting, captioned simply: “constructive.”
Adding to the significance, another photo circulated by the Ukrainian delegation showed Trump and Zelensky standing alongside Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron had placed a hand on Zelensky’s shoulder, suggesting efforts to bridge divides amid the solemn setting of the Pope’s funeral. Steven Cheung, White House communications director, confirmed that further details regarding the private meeting in Vatican City would be disclosed later.
The meeting came just a day after Trump announced that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal,” following talks between his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Witkoff’s latest Moscow visit, his fourth this year, was described by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as “very useful”, adding it had brought Russian and US positions “closer together”, especially regarding the resumption of direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
After the discussion inside St Peter’s, Trump and Zelensky descended the basilica’s steps together before taking their seats in the front row. During the funeral service, they sat a few seats apart, separated by other world leaders, including Macron.
In his homily, Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re recalled Pope Francis’s consistent plea for global harmony, noting, “‘Build bridges, not walls’ was an exhortation he repeated many times.”
Second Meeting Hopes Dashed
Ukrainian officials had hinted at the possibility of a second meeting later in the day. However, Trump’s motorcade departed St Peter’s almost immediately after the service concluded, and he soon left Rome.
Taking to social media, Zelensky expressed optimism: “We discussed a lot one on one,” he wrote. “I hope for results on everything we talked about.” He called it a “very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”
Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to… pic.twitter.com/q4ZhVXCjw0
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2025
Pressure Mounts on Kyiv
Saturday’s talks unfolded under growing tension. Trump has reportedly been pushing Kyiv to accept territorial concessions, a proposal that would see Ukraine relinquish significant areas, including Crimea, seized by Russia in 2014.
Zelensky has consistently resisted these suggestions. Speaking to the BBC on Friday, he underlined his stance: “A full and unconditional ceasefire opens up the possibility to discuss everything.”
The meeting at St Peter’s Basilica, against the backdrop of a world mourning Pope Francis, could yet prove a turning point — or simply another sharp chapter in a conflict still far from resolution.
