(OSV News) – U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met at the Vatican April 26 ahead of the funeral Mass for Pope Francis.
The meeting inside St. Peter’s Basilica marked the presidents’ first face-to-face meeting since a tense February Oval Office meeting, and also took place as Trump has put pressure on Zelenskyy to accept his terms for peace negotiations, which would allow Russia to control Ukrainian territory it seized by warfare.
But a counterproposal from Ukrainian officials would in part include security guarantees and would seek to use frozen Russian assets to rebuild damage caused by Russia’s invasion and attacks.
“Good meeting,” Zelenskyy wrote in a post on the social media platform X, including a photo of himself and Trump in discussion in the basilica. “We discussed a lot one on one. 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. Thank you @POTUS (Trump).”
A spokesperson for the White House called the meeting “productive.”
“Nothing like some tough diplomacy in one of the most beautiful places in the world,” Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz wrote on X.
In a lengthy post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump criticized media coverage of his negotiations, and suggested that arguments that Ukraine “should get back territory,” are “ridiculous requests.”
But Trump also appeared to change his tone on Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding, “With all of that being said, there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days.”
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!” Trump wrote.
Russia launched a missile and drone attack on Kyiv just days prior to the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting at St. Peter's, killing at least 12 people and wounding over 70 in the biggest attack on Ukraine's capital this year. Russia's aerial assault began at 1 a.m. April 24 and lasted 11 hours.
Trump and Zelenskyy were among the world leaders who attended the papal funeral. Other attendees included former President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Complex seating arrangements at the funeral sought to avoid placing traditional enemies and nations at war near each other. For example, Zelenskyy, in his capacity as Ukraine’s head of state, was seated ahead of Russia's representative, Olga Lyubimova, its minister of culture.
Bipartisan groups from both the U.S. House and Senate also represented their respective chambers at the funeral.
Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., one of the senators who attended the funeral, wrote on X, “We must hold on to the message of Pope Francis of love, peace, understanding, and respect for one another – it’s needed now more than ever.”
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., posted a video of mourners in St. Peter’s Square and said the late pontiff “dedicated his life to the church and Christ's mission.”
After a funeral Mass and procession April 26, Pope Francis’ mortal remains were taken to St. Mary Major for burial at that ancient basilica.
(Kate Scanlon is a national reporter for OSV News covering Washington.)
