U.S. President Donald Trump has cast doubt on Vladimir Putin’s commitment to ending the war in Ukraine following a face-to-face meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican. The two leaders met for 15 minutes inside St. Peter’s Basilica before the funeral service for Pope Francis.
Posting on his Truth Social account after leaving Rome, Trump said Moscow’s recent missile strikes on Kyiv made him fear that Putin was “just tapping me along,” questioning whether the Russian leader was serious about peace. Trump suggested that “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” might be necessary to change Putin’s approach.
The White House described the Trump-Zelensky meeting as “very productive,” while Zelensky called it “a very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.” Images from the meeting showed Trump and Zelensky in intense discussion, with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron appearing to have helped broker the encounter.
This meeting was the first between Trump and Zelensky since a tense Oval Office session earlier this year, where Trump reportedly told the Ukrainian leader he was “not winning” and “had no cards to play.” Despite having previously criticized Ukraine’s stance and pushing for territorial concessions to Russia, Trump appeared more cautious after this Vatican encounter.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin announced that Putin reiterated to Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, Russia’s readiness to engage in direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions.” However, Trump’s remarks reflected skepticism, particularly in light of continued Russian attacks on civilian areas.
After the Vatican meeting, Zelensky continued diplomatic efforts, holding talks with Macron, Starmer, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Macron emphasized the shared goal with Trump of ending the conflict and expressed support for an “unconditional ceasefire.”
Despite increasing external pressure, Zelensky has consistently refused proposals involving territorial concessions, including Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea. Speaking to the BBC, Zelensky reiterated that while Ukraine seeks peace, any discussions must follow a complete and unconditional ceasefire.
The Rome meeting marked a significant moment in diplomatic efforts, but deep divisions over how to achieve peace remain.
