President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Vatican City on Saturday, April 26, 2025, just before attending the funeral of Pope Francis. This meeting comes at a critical time as both leaders seek to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The two presidents were seen engaged in a private discussion, which was highlighted by photos released by the Ukrainian government. They also interacted with other world leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who have been active in promoting peace efforts in the region.
Zelenskyy described the meeting as "good" in a social media post, expressing hope for tangible outcomes from their discussions. He emphasized the need for a full and unconditional ceasefire and a lasting peace to prevent future conflicts. White House communications director Steven Cheung echoed this sentiment, stating that the conversation was productive and that further details would be shared later.
This meeting follows a series of diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the war that has plagued Ukraine since Russia’s invasion. Recently, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, while Trump’s aide, Keith Kellogg, engaged with Ukrainian and European officials in London.
Trump has been vocal about his desire to broker peace talks, despite previous tensions with Zelenskyy. Their last meeting in February ended abruptly after a public disagreement over U.S. aid to Ukraine. In the lead-up to this latest meeting, Trump expressed optimism about reaching an agreement, suggesting that most major issues had been settled. However, he acknowledged challenges, particularly regarding the contentious topic of Crimea, which Zelenskyy insists cannot be part of any deal.
As the world watches, the outcomes of these discussions could have significant implications for the future of Ukraine and its relationship with both Russia and the United States.