U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for roughly 15 minutes on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral Saturday, April 26. It marked a stark contrast from the two leaders’ last face-to-face conversation –– the now-infamous Oval Office meeting that was cut short back in February.
The significance of the meeting’s time and place was certainly not lost on Zelenskyy, who called his discussion with Trump at Pope Francis’ funeral “very symbolic.” The pontiff had long advocated for an end to the war from the very site where the two men spoke. The Vatican also previously offered to help broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.
In a more general sense, the White House called Saturday’s discussion “very productive,” while Zelenskyy described it as a “good meeting.”
Trump questions Putin’s good-faith negotiations
Trump, too, seemed sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause, following the funeral and his chat with Zelenskyy. “There was no reason for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump wrote on social media while flying back to the U.S. from Rome. “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!!!”
The post signifies Trump’s growing frustration with Putin, whom he addressed by his first name in a post on Truth Social Thursday, April 24, writing, “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!”
Trump had previously floated the idea of imposing more sanctions on Russia as it continues to evade a potential ceasefire agreement, though no such action has been taken. Some within the GOP have called for stronger sanctions, including Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who said there is “clear evidence that [Putin] is playing America as a patsy,” according to the Associated Press.
Peace negotiations grow increasingly complex
All of this comes as the U.S. offered what it calls its “final offer” to both Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday, April 23, which requires Ukraine to cede some of the territory Russia has occupied, going all the way back to 2014. Then, on Friday, April 25, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin met in Moscow, with Trump saying, “They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off.’”
Now, however, it’s unclear what the terms of a ceasefire agreement might entail, as Zelenskyy has previously said his country will not relinquish any of its territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014.
“Real pressure on Russia is needed so that they accept either the American proposal to cease fire and move towards peace, or our proposal — whichever one can truly work and ensure a reliable, immediate, and unconditional ceasefire, and then — a dignified peace and security guarantees,” Zelenskyy said in a statement Friday.
Though the Ukrainian president’s office initially said that the two leaders were due to meet again Saturday, Zelenskyy’s spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, later said they were unable to because of “tight schedules,” the Associated Press reports.
Meanwhile, Putin did not attend Francis’ funeral due to an outstanding arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, over Moscow’s alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
