The President of Ukraine, Voldymir Zelensky, remarked on Saturday that a short meeting with President Trump in Vatican City was “favorable” and “symbolic” as the US continues to advocate for peace discussions between Moscow and Kyiv.
“It was a positive meeting. We covered a lot in a single conversation.” Zelensky posted on the social media platform X shortly after their encounter before Pope Francis’ funeral. “We eagerly await the outcomes we’ve discussed.”
“We are committed to safeguarding our citizens. An absolute and unconditional ceasefire. A robust and enduring peace that will avert future conflicts. A momentous meeting that could be historic if we achieve collaborative results,” he continued, sharing an image of the two. “Thank you to @Potus.”
The White House Communications Director, Stephen Chan, characterized the discussion as “effective” but did not divulge specifics.
This meeting represented the first direct engagement between the two leaders since a contentious discussion at the White House earlier this year. Trump has also recently criticized Zelensky, accusing him of hesitation regarding the impending mineral trade and condemning Ukrainian leaders for not accepting certain areas as Russian territory, while partially disapproving of Ukraine’s involvement in NATO.
Trump’s stern remarks contributed to Russia’s deadly drone strike in Kiev earlier this week. He criticized Russian President in a Thursday post on his social platform, deeming the strike “unnecessary” and “poorly timed.”
On Saturday, the president raised concerns and acknowledged that Russian leaders might be “taking shots at him.” This sentiment marks a change from his statements from nearly a week prior.
“There has been no justification for missile strikes in civilian areas, cities, or towns in recent days,” Trump stated.Posted online while returning from Rome to the United States.
He reflected, “Perhaps he prefers the war to continue, merely criticizing me and managing the situation through ‘banks’ or ‘secondary sanctions.’ ‘Too many lives are being lost!!!’
