Donald Trump has voiced criticism of Vladimir Putin, suggesting a shift in his approach to the Russian president after a meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of the Pope’s funeral. The Ukrainian leader described their one-on-one discussion as potentially “historic”, with images capturing the two seated closely together inside St Peter’s Basilica. Following the encounter, Mr Trump questioned Mr Putin’s willingness to end the conflict, stating via his Truth Social platform that there was “no reason” for missiles to be targeting civilian areas, and hinting at the need for tougher financial measures.
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This meeting marked the first face-to-face encounter between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy since a public dispute in the White House earlier this year. Mr Zelenskyy reported a positive conversation focused on the defence of Ukrainian civilians, a full and unconditional ceasefire, and the pursuit of a durable peace. French President Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer were also seen participating briefly in discussions, which were described as “positive” by the French presidency. However, due to conflicting schedules, no further meetings between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy took place that day.
The French president later confirmed Ukraine’s readiness for an unconditional ceasefire and reiterated that a coalition led by the UK and France would continue pushing for a lasting resolution. Applause broke out among global leaders at the Vatican as Mr Zelenskyy paid his respects to the pontiff. Sir Tony Brenton, former British ambassador to Russia, noted that the meeting could represent a significant step towards initiating a peace process, while clergy at the Vatican referred to the occasion as “Pope Francis’s miracle”.
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Meanwhile, Mr Trump’s peace negotiator, Steve Witkoff, reportedly held talks with Mr Putin at the Kremlin, discussing the potential resumption of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The conflict, ongoing since February 2022, has seen few direct talks in recent times. Mr Trump reiterated on social media that a peace deal was “very close”, urging both sides to act swiftly. In related developments, the Polish armed forces reported that a Russian military helicopter had violated Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea, suggesting a test of Poland’s air defence systems.
