President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a brief but significant encounter during the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome. It was the first time the two leaders had interacted in person since their contentious exchange at the White House in February.
The discussion was characterized as highly productive by both Trump and Zelenskyy, with a primary emphasis on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the pursuit of a ceasefire. Trump expressed renewed skepticism regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to peace in the aftermath of the meeting, particularly in light of the recent missile strikes that targeted Ukrainian communities.
The conversation occurred in the midst of a gathering of over 250,000 mourning and world leaders who had gathered to pay tribute to the late pontiff. In addition to other global dignitaries, former President Joe Biden attended the occasion.
The ongoing complexity of diplomatic endeavors to resolve the conflict in Ukraine was underscored by the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy.