US President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Voldimir Zelensky, met before Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday.
Trump Zelensky’s conversation about the bystanders at the Pope’s funeral was the first encounter between the two leaders in a face-to-face encounter as they had an oval office swap at the White House in February.
In historic photos released by the Ukrainian government, two leaders can be seen sitting across from the eyes and spectacular views of St. Peter’s Cathedral.
Zelenskyy described it as “a very iconic meeting that could become historic if joint results were achieved.”
“We discussed one-on-one. We hope for all the outcomes we covered,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X, adding, “We protect the lives of our people. A complete and unconditional ceasefire. A reliable and lasting peace prevents another war from breaking out.”
The direct improvisation meeting of the two leaders has been a strong contrast to the public snipers of the past few days, raising hopes for the Russian war for the Ukrainian war.
But when Trump left the Pope’s funeral, the US president on social media expressed renewed skepticism that the peace deal could soon be reached.
Trump doubles Putin’s responsibilities
“There has been no reason for Putin to fire missiles in civilian regions, cities or towns over the past few days,” Trump said in a post.
“Maybe he’s going to want to stop the war. He’s just tapping me and we have to deal with it differently through “banks” or “secondary sanctions.” Too many are dying!!!” the American leader wrote.
Trump’s uncertainty comes as he and his senior aides step up their efforts to come to the deal to end the war, now in their fourth year.
His latest comments also stated that they were “very close to the deal” following a special envoy Steve Witkov meeting with Putin in Moscow, in contrast to the positive reviews he made on Friday.
Putin, facing an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity in the Ukrainian War, did not attend Pope Francis’ funeral.
In recent months, Moscow has stepped up its attack on Ukraine. On Thursday, there was an attack on the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, which killed at least 12 people.
Since the Russian Ukrainian War began in February 2022, Moscow has controlled Ukrainian territory in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zapolizia and Herson regions.
Crimea, a strategic peninsula along the Black Sea in southern Ukraine, seized by Russia in 2014, has become one of the territory Trump suggested that Ukraine should give up with his peace plan to end the war.
President Zelensky vowed not to abandon Ukrainian territory, saying he was opposed to Ukraine’s constitution.
Additional sources •AP
