At the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Square, global leaders gathered to pay their final respects to a pontiff who transformed the Catholic Church. Yet, beyond the solemnity of the occasion, the diplomatic undercurrents were impossible to ignore particularly the placement of U.S. President Donald Trump between two vocal supporters of Ukraine.
Seated in the front row with other heads of state, Trump and First Lady Melania found themselves flanked by Estonia’s President Alar Karis to Melania’s left, and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb to Trump’s right. Both Karis and Stubb are known for their unwavering support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.
The seating arrangement is particularly notable given Trump’s recent comments suggesting he is “very close” to brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal. It also comes after a brief but significant meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the funeral service an encounter that has fueled speculation about Trump’s diplomatic intentions should he return to office.
Alexander Stubb, a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, shares a personal rapport with Trump. Only a few weeks earlier, the two had played a round of golf together at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Stubb reportedly used the opportunity to emphasize his deep mistrust of Putin, a message he would likely reiterate at any private exchange during the funeral.
Estonia’s Alar Karis, another close ally of Ukraine, has been vocal about the need for continued Western support for Kyiv. Should he have the chance to engage Trump, his message would almost certainly align with Stubb’s warnings about Russian aggression and the importance of standing firm with Ukraine.
While the world watched the farewell to Pope Francis, political observers keenly noted the symbolic image: Donald Trump, a pivotal figure in any future peace talks, literally seated between two pillars of Ukraine’s support network. In an era where body language and proximity can hint at diplomatic direction, the optics from St Peter’s Basilica could have long-lasting implications for the conflict in Eastern Europe.
