Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his brief meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at Pope Francis’s funeral at the Vatican last week was the most constructive the two have had.
In a statement released by his office, Zelensky said both leaders agreed that a 30-day ceasefire between Kyiv and Moscow would be the right first step towards peace in Ukraine.
The 15-minute conversation took place inside St Peter’s Basilica after they crossed paths at the funeral. Zelensky reportedly urged Trump to return to his original call for an unconditional ceasefire as the basis for peace talks — a move Kyiv supports but Moscow has so far rejected.
It was their first in-person meeting since a tense February exchange in the Oval Office, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelensky for what they called a lack of appreciation for U.S. support.
Zelensky also noted that a minerals agreement between the two countries — creating a joint investment fund — had been significantly revised to ensure fair terms for both sides. He said he raised the issue of sanctions with Trump and described the U.S. president’s response as “very strong,” though he did not provide details.