Trump, Zelenskyy Meet One-on-One at Vatican Before Pope’s Funeral

Both leaders spoke positively of their meeting.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) and U.S. President Donald Trump talk as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Vatican on April 26, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a brief one-on-one discussion inside St. Peter’s Basilica on April 26 before convening with other leaders to attend Pope Francis’s funeral.

The conversation took place before the funeral Mass began, at a point in the morning when the Vatican’s vast basilica was shut to allow world leaders and diplomats to visit the pontiff’s closed coffin and pay their respects.

Pictures showing Trump and Zelenskyy seated together and apparently in deep discussion were shared across social media.

This was the first face-to-face encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since their heated meeting in the Oval Office in February.

Many of those who shared the photos commented on the significance of their meeting place, including Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Waltz, who said, “Nothing like some tough diplomacy in one of the most beautiful places in the world.”

The White House later confirmed that the sitdown took place.

“President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very productive discussion,” Steven Cheung, White House communications director, told reporters. “More details about the meeting will follow.”

White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino shared a “behind the scenes” video on social media platform X of cardinals helping organize chairs for the two heads of state.

No further discussion was had after the funeral. Trump and first lady Melania Trump quickly returned to Air Force One afterward to fly back to the United States.

Zelenskyy thanked Trump and said it was a good meeting.

“We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy said on X. “Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”

This meeting came less than 24 hours after Trump announced he had “a good day in talks and meetings” with Ukraine and Russia.

“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off.’ Most of the major points are agreed to,” the president wrote on Truth Social. ”Stop the bloodshed, now. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the end to this cruel and senseless war!”

In a follow-up post to his social media platform, Trump reiterated his stance that President Barack Obama was responsible for allowing Crimea to fall into Russian hands.

However, he expressed doubt that Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want peace after all and could face more U.S. sanctions for the war to end.

“With all of that being said, there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” he said. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!”

Putin expressed his condolences and praised Pope Francis for his “dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic Churches as well as constructive cooperation between Russia and the Holy See.” The Kremlin announced on April 22 that he would not attend the funeral.