Trump and Zelenskyy Hold ‘Very Productive’ Talks During Pope Francis’ Funeral in Rome

Rome, The Gulf Observer: Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in person for the first time since their widely discussed disagreement in the Oval Office in February. The two leaders convened while both were in Rome for Pope Francis’ funeral, though the exact timing of their meeting has not been disclosed.

Details of the encounter remain scarce, with both Ukrainian and White House officials offering limited information. However, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung characterized the conversation as “very productive,” according to media reports.

Following the meeting, President Zelenskyy took to Twitter to describe the encounter as “very symbolic” and potentially “historic,” signaling a shift in the dynamics between the two nations. The meeting comes months after a tense fallout in February, when Zelenskyy abruptly left the White House following an argument with President Trump and Vice President JD Vance. In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the incident had been “bad for both sides.”

This meeting arrives amidst stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with President Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin making competing demands that have yet to bring about an agreement. Trump, who has positioned himself as a mediator in the conflict, expressed optimism about the potential for a breakthrough. On Truth Social, he wrote, “A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet at very high levels to ‘finish it off.’ Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war.”

Despite his recent criticism of both Zelenskyy and Putin, Trump has remained vocal in pushing for peace. He recently demanded that Putin “stop” strikes on Kyiv and voiced his displeasure with the ongoing attacks on Ukraine. On the other hand, Trump blasted Zelenskyy’s stance on Crimea after the Ukrainian president reaffirmed that Ukraine would not recognize Russian control over the region, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

While President Putin has rejected several U.S. proposals for a peace deal, the White House remains hopeful about Trump’s ability to influence the resolution of the war. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented, “This war is endable. Both sides just have to agree to it.” He also indicated that “good meetings” had taken place over the weekend, suggesting ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict to a close.

Trump has maintained that he is adhering to his self-imposed “deadline” for achieving peace and remains confident that a resolution is within reach. He expressed a belief that there is “a very good chance of getting [a deal] done.”