Zelensky and Trump Hold ‘Productive’ Meeting in Rome

Rome: US President Donald Trump had a “very productive” meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in St Peter’s Basilica before Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, the White House said. The Ukrainian president further implied the encounter could take on historic proportions.

According to Ansa News Agency, Zelensky described the meeting as a significant opportunity to discuss critical issues. “A good meeting, we had time to discuss a lot face to face,” Zelensky communicated via telegram. He expressed hope for concrete outcomes, emphasizing the importance of protecting lives, achieving a complete and unconditional ceasefire, and establishing a reliable and lasting peace to prevent future conflicts. Zelensky described the meeting as “highly symbolic” and potentially historic if it yields congruent results. He concluded his message with gratitude, stating, “Thank you, President Trump!”

RBC-Ukraine reported that a second meeting in Rome between Trump and Zelensky, which had been anticipated, did not take place as the US president was scheduled to depart immediately after Pope Francis’ funeral. Despite this, the report confirmed that “all the main things were discussed” during their initial meeting before the funeral.

Additionally, Zelensky engaged in a four-way meeting with Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of the funeral. He then held a bilateral meeting with Macron, furthering diplomatic discussions.