President Trump and President Zelensky had a significant private meeting at the Pope's funeral

On April 26, 2025, President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky had a private meeting lasting about 15 minutes at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, right before the funeral of Pope Francis. This was the first time the two leaders directly conversed after a tense meeting in February.

The exchange was described as "very effective" and held the potential to "make history" if commitments were realized. Both sides focused on discussing the promotion of a comprehensive ceasefire, protecting civilians, and building a lasting peace for Ukraine.

President Trump subsequently strongly criticized Russia's attacks on Ukrainian civilians and hinted at the possibility of applying additional financial sanctions if the conflict escalates. He also expressed skepticism about President Putin's goodwill, suggesting that tougher measures were needed.

This meeting took place amid the international community's efforts to promote peaceful diplomacy, as a series of world leaders gathered in the Vatican to honor Pope Francis – who had repeatedly called for an end to the war.