In a striking moment ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump met privately, holding what both sides described as a significant and potentially historic conversation. The 15-minute meeting, which took place inside the basilica just before the funeral service began, was described by the White House as “very productive” and by Zelensky as “very symbolic,” with the potential to shape future diplomacy.
Photos shared by Ukrainian officials showed Trump and Zelensky seated opposite one another, locked in serious conversation. Zelensky’s head of office, Andriy Yermak, simply captioned the images with the word “constructive.” The meeting came against the backdrop of Trump’s recent comments suggesting that Ukraine and Russia were “very close to a deal,” following talks between Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow just a day earlier.
This meeting marks the first time the two leaders have spoken face-to-face since their tense Oval Office encounter in February, where Trump bluntly told Zelensky that he was “not winning” and had “no cards to play.” Despite those sharp exchanges, Saturday’s meeting appeared to take on a more diplomatic tone, with Zelensky later posting that it was a “good meeting” and that he hoped for real results from their discussion.
Adding to the symbolism, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were also seen speaking with Trump and Zelensky inside the basilica. An image released by Ukrainian officials showed Macron with his hand on Zelensky’s shoulder, hinting at broader international efforts to support dialogue between the U.S. and Ukraine.
Following the meeting, Trump’s motorcade quickly departed St. Peter’s, leaving Zelensky to continue meetings with European leaders, including President Macron and, reportedly, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Meanwhile, Russian officials indicated that discussions between Trump’s envoy and Moscow had been “very useful” and had brought the Russian and U.S. positions “closer together” not only on Ukraine but also on broader international issues, raising the prospect of resuming direct talks between Ukrainian and Russian representatives.
The funeral service itself, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, emphasized Pope Francis’ call for peace, reminding mourners of the late pontiff’s enduring plea to “build bridges, not walls.” Throughout the ceremony, Trump and Zelensky sat in the front row, separated by Macron and other dignitaries, as they witnessed Pope Francis’ final farewell.
While hopes for a second meeting between Trump and Zelensky circulated earlier in the day, Trump departed Rome shortly after the funeral. The next steps in any potential negotiations remain uncertain, but the brief meeting inside St. Peter’s Basilica may yet prove to be a turning point in the effort to end the war in Ukraine.