VATICAN CITY, April 26 – On Saturday, President Donald Trump of the United States and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy held a private meeting inside St. Peter’s Basilica. The meeting, arranged while both leaders were in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, aimed to revive struggling efforts to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The encounter, which lasted approximately 15 minutes, took place without any aides or officials present just the two leaders, seated closely on marble benches in one of Christianity’s holiest sites. Zelenskiy later described the conversation as potentially historic, expressing hope that it would lay the groundwork for a durable and meaningful peace. A spokesperson for Trump echoed a similarly positive tone, calling the talks “very productive.”
Captured in photographs released by both Kyiv and Washington, the images showed Trump and Zelenskiy leaning toward each other in deep discussion, underscoring the intensity of the conversation. Their meeting came at a crucial moment, just months after a tense exchange in the White House that highlighted the fragility of U.S-Ukraine relations.
Symbolism and New Tensions
After attending the funeral service for Pope Francis, Trump boarded Air Force One and took off from Italy. Shortly after, he posted a strong message on his Truth Social account, condemning the recent Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities that resulted in civilian casualties. Trump stated, “There is no justification for Putin to target civilian areas, cities, and towns in the past few days,” referring to the deadly missile strike in Kyiv earlier this week that killed at least twelve people.
Trump’s remarks suggested a hardening of his stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin — a notable shift from previous comments where Trump often appeared less critical of Moscow. In his post, Trump questioned whether Putin genuinely wanted peace and hinted at imposing tougher financial penalties, mentioning “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” as possible measures. “Too many people are dying!!!” he added.
Meanwhile, Zelenskiy took to his Telegram channel to share his impressions of the private meeting. “Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot. We hope for a result from all the things that were spoken about,” he wrote, adding that topics included securing the lives of Ukrainian citizens, achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire, and establishing a long-lasting peace framework.
Zelenskiy emphasized the importance of the meeting, calling it “very symbolic” and expressing gratitude toward Trump for engaging so directly. “It could turn into a historic moment if we succeed in reaching shared goals,” he remarked.
Photographs from the meeting showed the two leaders sitting face-to-face inside the grand basilica, a setting more often reserved for religious ceremonies than high-stakes diplomacy. In another image taken after their private discussion, Trump and Zelenskiy were seen briefly joining British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron outside the basilica, gathered in a close conversation, with Macron offering a reassuring hand on Zelenskiy’s shoulder.
Challenges Ahead for Ukraine Peace Talks
Despite the optimistic language following the meeting, major challenges loom over any potential peace process. According to documents circulating among diplomatic circles, sharp differences have surfaced between the Trump team’s approach and the positions held by Kyiv and its European allies.
One significant stumbling block concerns the status of Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Trump’s team is reportedly considering a proposal that would legally recognize Crimea as Russian territory, a concession that Ukraine and many European leaders view as unacceptable. Kyiv has maintained that any peace deal must respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea.
Other disagreements involve the timeline for lifting international sanctions on Russia, the types of security guarantees Ukraine would receive in a post-war settlement, and financial compensation for the destruction inflicted by Russian forces.
Trump and Zelenskiy’s personal Connection has also been complicated. During a heated meeting in the Oval Office earlier this year, Trump accused Zelenskiy of escalating tensions and risking a wider conflict. Since then, both sides have attempted to patch up relations, though mutual frustrations have occasionally flared into public statements. Zelenskiy has suggested that Trump is influenced by a “disinformation bubble” favoring Moscow, while Trump has criticized Kyiv for dragging its feet during peace negotiations.
Still, both leaders understand that they need each other. Trump seeks a major diplomatic victory by brokering a swift end to the conflict, while Zelenskiy needs Trump’s influence to pressure Russia into making concessions. Their mutual interests have created an unusual but necessary alliance, even as tensions occasionally surface.
Saturday’s private meeting at the Vatican, set against a powerful backdrop, marked a rare opportunity for direct talks between the two leaders. Zelenskiy, as he has done since the war’s earliest days, wore a simple dark shirt and military-style jacket — a deliberate choice to show solidarity with Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.
The world will now be watching closely to see if their solemn meeting at St. Peter’s Basilica will mark a turning point toward peace or simply become another footnote in the long and painful history of Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty.