US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a “very productive discussion” as world leaders gathered in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis – remembered as “a pope among the people”.
The meeting, taking place privately but not without carefully choreographed photographs before the service at St Peter’s Square, marked the first in-person encounter between Trump and Zelenskyy since a bruising Oval Office confrontation in February.
Symbolic
Zelenskyy’s chief of staff described the talks as “constructive”, while Zelenskyy himself posted on X, calling it “a very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic.”
“We discussed a lot one on one,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Hoping for results on everything we covered – protecting lives, a full and unconditional ceasefire, and lasting peace to prevent another war.”
Applause for Zelenskyy
Applause broke out when Zelenskyy, wearing his wartime military attire, arrived at the Vatican. A positive exchange also reportedly occurred between Trump, Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
While Trump shook hands with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, no substantial conversations took place, though a future meeting with von der Leyen was agreed.
Pope buried outside Vatican
An estimated 200,000 mourners filled St Peter’s Square, joined by royalty and heads of state from around the world. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re paid tribute to the late pontiff’s compassion for migrants and the marginalised, recalling his vision of the church as a “field hospital after battle.”
Pope Francis’s coffin was carried through Rome to Santa Maria Maggiore, marking him as the first pope in over a century to be buried outside Vatican City. His death, at 88, has sparked a nine-day mourning period, after which a conclave will elect his successor.
