President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met privately on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral in St. Peter’s Square on April 26.
The meeting marked their first face-to-face encounter since a tense Oval Office exchange two months ago.
According to White House Communications Director Steven Cheung, the discussion was “very productive,” focusing on pathways to revive stalled peace negotiations in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The unusual meeting at Pope Francis’s Funeral arose in part from Vatican seating protocols: delegations were arranged in French alphabetical order, initially placing the two leaders apart. Seizing the moment after the solemn Mass, Trump and Zelenskyy spoke one-on-one before rejoining fellow dignitaries.
Images released by the Ukrainian presidency showed both leaders flanked by French President Emmanuel Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, underscoring the high-stakes diplomatic atmosphere in Rome.
Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska attended the funeral just two days after a deadly missile strike hit Kyiv Both arrived to applause from an estimated 200,000 mourners as their presence reinforced global solidarity amid ongoing conflict at home.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass had reported that President Trump rushed to his Truth Social to condemned the latest Russia’s attack on Kiyv. ‘Vladimir, STOP!’, he posted in a message that highlighted Washington’s growing anger over attempts by Moscow to frustrate the ongoing peace talks targeted at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
On Friday, Trump’s special envoy held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a flurry of diplomatic efforts converging on the funeral events. With peace talks stalled and international pressure mounting, these parallel encounters highlighted a concerted push by multiple parties to break the deadlock in Ukraine negotiations.
Pope Francis, who died on April 21 at age 88 after suffering a stroke, was honored by more than 130 heads of state and government. Among them were British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Argentina’s President Javier Milei—alongside royalty, religious figures, and representatives from around the world—reflecting the late pontiff’s global influence and commitment to dialogue.
Following the funeral Mass in St. Peter’s Square, which featured hymns, eulogies, and a procession of dignitaries, Francis’s body was interred at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. In keeping with his wishes, the burial was simple and eschewed traditional papal opulence, in line with his legacy of humility and service to the marginalized’
…With News Wires
