US President Donald Trump has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of Pope Francis’s funeral, according to Vatican sources.
A White House official has confirmed the pair had a "very productive discussion".
The discussion reportedly only lasted a few minutes, and no further information is known. The leaders initially agreed to continue discussions after the service, however a spokesman for Zelensky said this was not possible due to the pair's tight schedules.
The French presidency reported that Trump, Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Sir Keir Starmer also had a positive meeting on the sidelines of the papal funeral.
Donald Trump met Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of Pope Francis's funeral as talks to continue in Rome later today
UKRANIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SEC
They are among a host of world leaders attending the funeral, including Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Javier Milei.
There was a round of applause from some in St Peter’s Square as Zelensky appeared.
Former British ambassador to Russia, Sir Tony Brenton, noted that the event offers key diplomatic opportunities, including what he described as the "biggest possible meeting" between Trump and Zelensky.
Speaking to Sky News, he said the talks could mark "an important step" in peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
MORE LIKE THIS:
- Donald Trump ‘called Kyiv’s bluff’: Top aide talks up US peace plan as Ukraine deal ‘close as humanly possible’
- Ukraine splits on Crimea as Vladimir Putin praises Donald Trump with deal getting 'pretty close'
- Nigel Farage says Vladimir Putin CANNOT keep control of seized Ukrainian land: 'I want to see peace'
It marks their first in-person meeting since a tense row in the White House in February.
This comes after Steve Witkoff, Trump’s peace negotiator, recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the two leaders discussed "the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine."
Direct talks between the two countries have not taken place since the early stages of the war, which began in February 2022.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s peace negotiator, recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow
REUTERSTrump has claimed that a deal to end the conflict is "very close" and urged Zelensky to "get it done" in a post on his Truth Social platform.
He has also previously warned that his administration would abandon efforts to broker peace if both sides fail to reach an agreement soon.
Meanwhile, the Polish Armed Forces reported that a Russian military helicopter breached Polish airspace over the Baltic Sea on Friday evening.
In a post on X, they stated: "The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is testing the readiness of our air defence systems."
