President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky briefly met at Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday, marking their first encounter since a tense White House meeting earlier this year. The interaction took place on the sidelines of the ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, according to aides from both sides.
Zelensky’s spokesperson, Sergiy Nykyforov, confirmed the meeting had occurred but offered no further details. White House communications director Steven Cheung described the conversation as “very productive,” promising more information would follow.
Both leaders, accompanied by their wives, sat in the front row of the funeral, though they were separated by several other world leaders. Zelensky was seen glancing toward Trump, but no public interaction took place during the service.
Speculation about a possible meeting had swirled ahead of the event, with Trump only saying it was “possible.” Their encounter drew particular attention as Trump continues to pressure Zelensky to pursue a peace agreement with Russia — a position that has sparked controversy in both Washington and Kyiv.
Tensions remain high following a contentious Oval Office meeting on February 28, when Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky for being ungrateful for U.S. military aid since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
While Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt attacks on Ukraine, he has also blamed Zelensky for prolonging the war and suggested Kyiv accept controversial terms — including recognizing Russian control over Crimea, annexed in 2014.
Arriving in Rome on Friday, Trump urged Ukraine and Russia to meet “at very high levels” to finalize what he claimed was near-complete progress in peace talks. “Most of the major points are agreed to,” he posted on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, Putin reportedly discussed the potential for direct talks with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday. However, Zelensky once again
rejected any deal that concedes Crimea.
The meeting between Witkoff and Putin came just after a senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing near Moscow, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
An increasingly frustrated Trump has warned he might withdraw from efforts to broker peace if no progress is made. He previously claimed he could end the war within 24 hours if reelected, though he recently told Time magazine that the comment was “in jest.”
Trump’s appearance in Rome is his first foreign visit since beginning his second term and comes amid strained ties with European allies over sweeping U.S. tariffs. Still, he shook hands with several leaders, including EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Notably absent from Trump’s agenda was any interaction with his predecessor, Joe Biden, who attended the funeral independently with First Lady Jill Biden and sat five rows behind Trump.
Official Vatican photos showed Trump and Melania pausing by Pope Francis’s closed coffin before taking their seats. Trump wore a dark suit and tie, while Melania donned a black veil in line with tradition.
Trump emphasized that any meetings during the funeral would be brief, stating, “Frankly, it’s a little disrespectful to have meetings when you’re at the funeral of the pope.”
He is expected to return to the U.S. later Saturday after just a few hours in Rome.
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