On Saturday, just before Pope Francis’s funeral began at St. Peter’s Basilica, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in private. The two leaders talked for about 15 minutes in a quiet corner of the ancient church.
It was the first face-to-face meeting between Trump and Zelensky since a tense White House visit in February. This time, they spoke inside the Vatican, surrounded by stone columns and holy artwork. Photographs released by the Ukrainian presidency show the two men leaning in close for a discussion. Zelensky later called it a “good meeting” on social media:
“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered.”
This secret meeting took many by surprise because it was not officially announced beforehand. Trump had come to Rome for the pope’s funeral, and most people expected him only to pay his respects.
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Ukraine has been at war since Russia first invaded in 2014, then launched a full-scale attack in 2022. Millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes, and thousands of civilians have died. Europe and the United States have sent weapons and financial aid to help Ukraine fight. But the war drags on, and people around the world worry it could spread.
For Trump, ending the war quickly would be a significant achievement. He has said on Truth Social, his platform, that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal” and should meet “at very high levels” to “finish it off.” He even sent his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin. A Russian aide called those talks “constructive and very useful.”
Zelensky, for his part, said Ukraine is ready to be “pragmatic.” He told reporters in Kyiv before the trip:
“We are ready for dialogue, I emphasize again, in any format with anyone,” he said, but “only after a real signal that Russia is ready to end the war. Such a signal is a complete and unconditional ceasefire.”
He also suggested that Ukraine might accept not joining NATO for now if it gets strong security guarantees from the U.S. and other countries instead.
In February, Zelensky visited the White House. That meeting did not go well. Trump and his team publicly scolded Zelensky for not thanking the U.S. enough. In a moment shown on camera, Trump snapped at Zelensky for perceived ingratitude. The awkward scene hurt the trust between them.
Since then, arms shipments and intelligence sharing were briefly paused. U.S. officials were concerned that Zelensky’s government was not fully aligned with their objectives. This made both sides eager for a fresh start, which they sought in Rome.
Pope Francis’s funeral brought together about 130 foreign delegations, including 10 monarchs and 50 heads of state. The large crowd and carefully planned seating allowed Trump and Zelensky to slip away and meet privately. They spoke just outside the Baptistry Chapel, near the main entrance of St. Peter’s.
Some online critics even welcomed Vice President Vance’s absence. As Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) wrote, “Maybe without Vance around to wreck things again and incite conflict, Zelensky can get a few things through to the dipshit.”
Maybe without Vance around to wreck things again and incite conflict, Zelensky can get a few things through to the dipshit. pic.twitter.com/n6NqOsjDaj
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) April 26, 2025
Many people recall that in February, Vance entered Trump’s White House meeting with Zelensky, making the discussion tense by accusing him of not being grateful enough.
Other leaders were close by, too. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined in a quick huddle. Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Commission, spoke briefly with Trump for the first time since he returned to office. These unexpected chats show how major events can open doors for side talks.
Featured image via Screengrab
