Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump met privately on Saturday morning in St. Peter’s Basilica, just hours before the funeral of Pope Francis. The encounter marks the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since their highly charged Oval Office meeting years ago, which had far-reaching political consequences in both Washington and Kyiv.
White House communications director Steven Cheung confirmed the meeting, describing the conversation as “very productive” and noting that “more details about the meeting will follow.” Photos released by the Ukrainian presidency show Zelensky and Trump seated opposite each other in a quiet section of the basilica, engaged in what appears to be a focused discussion.
The talks come at a critical moment for Ukraine. Tensions between Kyiv and Washington have escalated in recent weeks, as Trump’s administration threatens to scale back its diplomatic efforts to broker peace with Russia. Earlier this week, Trump openly criticized Zelensky following remarks from the Ukrainian leader that Ukraine would never recognize Russia’s control over Crimea, a stance that has been a longstanding point of contention.
However, momentum toward a resolution may be shifting. After recent discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Steve Witkoff, Trump stated publicly that Ukraine and Russia were “very close to a deal.” Though details remain sparse, the remarks suggest that diplomatic channels are still active despite heightened tensions.
Saturday’s private meeting between Trump and Zelensky highlight the delicate balance both leaders must strike. For Ukraine, maintaining U.S. support remains crucial amid the ongoing war with Russia. For Trump, navigating the conflict is both a geopolitical and political challenge as he seeks to project leadership on the world stage.
