President Donald Trump hinted at a tougher stance on Russia following a rare and closely watched meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the funeral of Pope Francis, according to accounts from the Financial Times and The Times UK.
Despite warnings from Italian officials to avoid “funeral diplomacy,” Trump and Zelenskyy held a private 15-minute discussion on the marble floor of St Peter’s Basilica, just meters from the late Pope’s coffin. The Financial Times reported that the meeting, which took place before the funeral mass began, was described by officials from both sides as “constructive” and “very productive.”
The encounter marked the first time Trump and Zelenskyy had met face-to-face since their bitter Oval Office clash in February. According to the Times UK, the atmosphere this time was notably calmer, and both leaders appeared determined to project a cooperative tone.
Shortly after the funeral, Trump posted a striking message on Truth Social, where he questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump wrote. “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 comments mark a significant shift from recent reports, highlighted by The Times UK, suggesting that Trump was prepared to accept Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories as a basis for peace. Sources close to Trump’s envoy had previously indicated that this position was “set in stone,” raising alarm in Kyiv and among European allies.
However, Trump’s harder language at the Vatican may revive some hope in Ukraine, where leaders are seeking firmer U.S. support. Zelenskyy, posting on X after their conversation, called the meeting “very symbolic” and said it had the “potential to become historic” if it leads to real results, as reported by the Financial Times.
Trump’s diplomatic efforts unfolded as he worked the crowd of global leaders at the funeral, shaking hands with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and chatting briefly with British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Despite previous tensions, the atmosphere appeared cordial.
The funeral itself, attended by more than 200,000 mourners, offered a moment of rare unity on the global stage — though for Trump and Zelenskyy, it also became a venue for delicate, high-stakes diplomacy at a time of renewed uncertainty over the future of Ukraine.
