President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met privately inside St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, the site where Pope Francis’s funeral drew dozens of world leaders. Although the exact details of their conversation remain unclear, Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the exchange in a post on X. He described it as a “good meeting” and emphasized that it was a “very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.” In the same post, Zelenskyy highlighted his aspirations for “results on everything we covered,” mentioning crucial objectives such as achieving a “full and unconditional ceasefire,” ensuring the “lives of our people” are safeguarded, and establishing a “reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.”
According to a White House spokesperson speaking to CNN, the two leaders “met privately today and had a very productive discussion,” and the conversation reportedly lasted around 15 minutes. Both Trump and Zelenskyy agreed that further talks would continue, signaling an opening for more discussions moving forward.
Meanwhile, broader questions linger regarding the overall status of U.S. efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. Trump provided an update on the progress of peace negotiations through a post on Truth Social Friday, declaring that the work towards reaching a deal between Ukraine and Russia is “going smoothly.” This comes as frustration among U.S. leadership has grown, with some officials voicing impatience over the prolonged conflict. Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed clear dissatisfaction, warning that the United States would consider withdrawing from the talks if meaningful progress does not materialize soon. Rubio stated bluntly, “if it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on.”
Reporters later asked Trump about Rubio’s statement, and he responded forcefully. Trump made it clear that if either side became a roadblock to the negotiation process, he would not hesitate to walk away. “We’re just going to say: ‘You’re foolish. You’re fools. You’re horrible people,’ and we’re going to just take a pass,” Trump said, signaling a hardline stance should the talks stall.
Trump also took the opportunity to pressure Zelenskyy on another unresolved issue. Using Truth Social on Friday, Trump urged the Ukrainian president to finalize the minerals deal between Ukraine and the United States, a deal that has been stalled for months despite Zelenskyy indicating readiness to sign it back in March. Trump’s pressure highlighted that economic agreements remain entwined with broader political negotiations between the two countries.
Adding another layer of complexity to the negotiations, Trump made controversial remarks about Crimea during an interview with TIME magazine, given Tuesday and published Friday. He indicated that the contested region of Crimea would “stay with Russia,” a position that Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials strongly oppose. Trump asserted, “Zelenskyy understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time,” seemingly downplaying Ukrainian sovereignty over Crimea.
The president further elaborated on the evolving stance of Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interaction with reporters on Thursday. Trump revealed that Putin has shown a willingness to make substantial compromises to end the conflict. According to Trump, Putin “no longer wants the whole country,” suggesting a shift in Russia’s territorial ambitions. Trump characterized these changes as “pretty big concessions” on Putin’s part, portraying them as a possible opening for a negotiated settlement.
The significance of Saturday’s meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy is heightened by their contentious history. It marked the first time the two leaders had met face-to-face since their heated Oval Office exchange back in February. During that earlier confrontation, tensions had reached a boiling point after Zelenskyy expressed deep skepticism about Putin’s reliability in adhering to any potential ceasefire agreement.
In response to Zelenskyy’s concerns, Vice President JD Vance criticized the Ukrainian leader, accusing him of attempting to “litigate” the ongoing conflict “in front of the American media.” Vance’s remarks suggested frustration with what he viewed as Zelenskyy’s public handling of sensitive negotiations.
Trump, for his part, reacted angrily during the February meeting. Raising his voice, he lashed out at Zelenskyy, accusing him of “gambling with World War III” by being inflexible and mistrustful in the peace discussions. Trump even threatened at that point to withdraw entirely from the Ukraine-Russia talks, a dramatic move that would have reshaped the diplomatic landscape significantly.
Since that tense confrontation, both Trump and Zelenskyy had kept their distance from one another until their Vatican meeting. Saturday’s conversation offered a chance to reset their relationship, though it remains to be seen whether it will lead to substantive breakthroughs on any of the issues they discussed.
While Zelenskyy’s post on X suggested a sense of cautious optimism about the outcome, with hopes pinned on achieving tangible results, the broader environment remains challenging. Many factors complicate the path to a lasting peace, from lingering distrust between Russia and Ukraine to political calculations within the United States itself.
Trump’s dual messaging—calling the peace efforts “going smoothly” while at the same time warning about the dangers of recalcitrant parties—reflects the delicate balancing act required in such high-stakes diplomacy. His remarks about Crimea also point to a potential point of friction that could derail negotiations if not handled carefully.
Meanwhile, the minerals deal remains a critical side issue that could either strengthen ties between Washington and Kyiv or become another stumbling block if left unresolved. Trump’s public prodding of Zelenskyy on this matter underscores the mix of political, economic, and military considerations shaping the U.S. approach to the Ukraine conflict.
In the background, the pressure continues to mount for some kind of resolution. As Secretary of State Rubio’s comments made clear, patience is wearing thin among American leaders. Should significant progress fail to materialize soon, the United States might reassess its commitment to the current negotiation process.
For now, Trump and Zelenskyy’s brief yet significant meeting at the Vatican has renewed some hope that the two sides may find common ground. Whether this “very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic,” as Zelenskyy described it, will truly mark a turning point remains an open question. However, both leaders appear, at least for now, to remain engaged in the search for a solution.