In Rome, Trump and Zelensky Move Closer: Hopes for Peace in Ukraine Rekindled

The war in Ukraine took center stage during Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday, April 26, in Rome. On the sidelines of the solemn ceremony, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky held a discreet but highly anticipated meeting.

Nothing of the sort was on the Vatican’s official agenda. Yet, as 400,000 faithful lined the funeral procession, diplomatic discussions gained momentum among several world leaders determined to find a path to peace. In Vladimir Putin’s absence, Moscow was represented by its Minister of Culture.

An Unplanned but “Highly Productive” Meeting

Facing each other in a vast hall inside St. Peter’s Basilica, Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky spoke for about fifteen minutes. The meeting was described as “highly productive” by the White House and “constructive” by Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. It marked the first encounter between the two leaders since their heated clash in Washington last February.

On social media, Volodymyr Zelensky expressed cautious optimism: “I hope we achieve results on all the topics discussed.” The Ukrainian president once again called for a “total and unconditional ceasefire.” For his part, Donald Trump announced overnight that Russia and Ukraine were now “very close to an agreement,” without revealing further details.

Macron, Starmer, and von der Leyen Also Engaged

Another highlight of the day was a brief four-way meeting between Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emmanuel Macron, and Keir Starmer, captured in a photo released by the Ukrainian presidency. The Élysée confirmed that the discussions had been “positive,” while Emmanuel Macron praised a “very encouraging meeting” with Zelensky at Villa Bonaparte, home to the French Embassy to the Holy See.

“Peace is possible if Russia truly wants it,” Macron posted on X, emphasizing that Kyiv was ready for an immediate ceasefire and calling on Moscow to demonstrate good faith.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also briefly greeted Donald Trump, despite ongoing trade tensions between Brussels and Washington.

Moscow Signals Openness, But Doubts Remain

From a distance, Vladimir Putin sent a signal through Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, stating that he was ready to “resume negotiations without any preconditions.” Donald Trump reacted with skepticism, questioning whether Moscow was sincere and hinting at the possibility of strengthening sanctions against Russia if needed.

Meanwhile, Moscow claimed to have fully retaken the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces had launched an offensive in 2024 — an assertion quickly denied by Kyiv, which labeled it “propaganda” and insisted that fighting was still ongoing.

While hopes for peace seem to be gaining ground, mistrust remains deep. The road to a real agreement is still fraught with obstacles.