President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met privately inside St. Peter's Basilica minutes before the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, engaging in hastily arranged war talks as the White House ramps up efforts to broker a peace deal in Ukraine.
Photographs released by the Ukrainian presidency showed the two leaders in a close, one-on-one discussion in the ornate setting near the Baptistry Chapel. Both sides later confirmed the roughly 15-minute conversation, characterizing it as productive but withholding specifics. "We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered," Zelensky wrote on social media. "Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out."
Steven Cheung, White House Communications Director, said the two leaders "had a very productive discussion." The meeting came as U.S. officials, led by Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, intensify diplomatic activity aimed at securing a ceasefire. Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow the previous day for three hours, a session described as "constructive and very useful" by Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov.
The Vatican meeting, made possible by the chaotic and informal interactions among world leaders gathered for the funeral, marked the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelensky since their contentious February meeting at the White House, when Trump briefly suspended U.S. military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine.
Trump has claimed momentum is building toward a deal. "A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off,'" Trump posted on Truth Social upon arriving in Rome. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed the sentiment, telling reporters on Thursday, "This war is endable. Both sides just have to agree to it."
Despite public optimism from Washington, major hurdles remain. Zelensky, before departing Kyiv for Rome, insisted any settlement must be predicated on a "complete and unconditional ceasefire" and floated new security guarantees akin to NATO's Article 5 protections, without formal NATO membership.
A draft "Ukraine Deal Framework," drawn up during meetings in London last week and obtained by Reuters, proposes a full ceasefire monitored by the U.S. and third-party nations. It also envisions Ukraine regaining control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant and receiving "robust security guarantees," while avoiding explicit language recognizing Russian control of Crimea-an apparent red line for both Kyiv and European allies.
Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine's position on Crimea during a Friday press conference, stating, There was "nothing to talk about" regarding recognizing Russian sovereignty over the peninsula. "I agree with President Trump that Ukraine does not have enough weapons to regain control of the Crimean peninsula by force of arms. But the world has sanctions opportunities, other economic pressure."
Trump's diplomatic push has not been without complications. CNN reported this week that Trump has grown frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations, privately complaining that mediating a deal is "more difficult than he anticipated." Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Russian forces claimed control of the Kursk border region, though Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the loss.
