Both leaders spoke positively of their meeting.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a brief one-on-one discussion inside St. Peter’s Basilica on April 26 before convening with other leaders to attend Pope Francis’s funeral.
The conversation took place before the funeral Mass began, at a point in the morning when the Vatican’s vast basilica was shut to allow world leaders and diplomats to visit the pontiff’s closed coffin and pay their respects.
Pictures showing Trump and Zelenskyy seated in a corner as if they just pulled up a couple of chairs, hunched over deep in discussion, were shared across social media.
This was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since their heated meeting in the Oval Office in February that ended with Zelenskyy being asked to leave.
Many of those who shared it commented on the significance of their meeting place, including Trump’s National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz, who said, “Nothing like some tough diplomacy in one of the most beautiful places in the world.”
The White House later confirmed that the sitdown took place.
“President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very productive discussion,” Steven Cheung, White House communications director, told reporters. “More details about the meeting will follow.”
White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino shared a “behind the scenes” video on X of cardinals helping organize chairs for the two heads of state, with some comments shared with French President Emmanuel Macron.
No further discussion was had after the funeral. Trump and first lady Melania Trump quickly returned to Air Force One afterward to fly back to the United States.
Zelenskyy thanked Trump and said it was a good meeting.
“We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy said on X. “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 become historic, if we achieve joint results.”
This meeting came less than 24 hours after Trump announced he had “a good day in talks and meetings” with Ukraine and Russia.
By T.J. Muscaro
