Zelenskyy hails 'potentially historic' Trump talk in Vatican – as Ukraine leader also meets Starmer and Macron Zelenskyy has met with Trump, Starmer and Macron. Picture: Social media By Kit Heren Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met for "potentially historic" talks in St Peter's Basilica on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, after the US president said a Ukraine peace deal was "very close". Listen to this article Loading audio…
The picture, released by Ukrainian officials, showed an ad hoc meeting with the two sitting on plain chairs in the Vatican. It came as Trump said a peace deal was "very close" but reports also emerged that a plan to let Russia keep territory its forces have seized in Ukraine is “set in stone”. Mr Zelenskyy said the meeting with the US president before the funeral was "very symbolic".
The White House said the meeting lasted 15 minutes and was "very productive". The Ukrainian president said after the meeting, which took the place: "Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one.
Hoping for results on everything we covered. "Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire.
Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results." Read more: Farage claims Trump could make Putin a 'winner' – as he distances himself from US President over stance on Russia Read more: US ‘could walk away’ from peace talks if Ukraine and Russia don’t give up land, warns JD Vance Good meeting.
We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people.
Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to… pic.twitter.com/q4ZhVXCjw0 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 26, 2025 Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and France's Emmanuel Macron were also pictured alongside the American and Ukrainian presidents in images from the encounter.
A Downing Street spokesperson said of Sir Keir's meeting with Mr Zelenskyy: "They discussed positive progress made in recent days to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. "They agreed to maintain momentum and continue working intensively with international partners to drive forward the next stages of planning. The leaders agreed to speak again at the earliest opportunity."
Starmer and Zelenskyy. Picture: Social media Soon after arriving in Rome for Pope Francis' funeral, Trump urged high-level officials from the warring countries to meet and "finish [the deal] off". Trump said "most of the major points" have been "agreed" between Russia and Ukraine.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump said: "A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. "They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off'. "Most of the major points are agreed to.
Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war!" Donald Trump says Russia and Ukraine are 'very close to a deal' and urges officials to 'meet'.
Picture: Getty Earlier this week, the US president told reporters that he was putting "a lot of pressure" on both sides to bring an end to the war, but did not share any specifics on these negotiations. He made the remarks following a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in the Oval Office, who praised Mr Trump for his "initiatives to make progress". Also this week, Mr Trump issued a direct plea to Vladimir Putin on his Truth Social platform urging Moscow to stop strikes on Ukraine.
His post came after at least nine people were killed and more than 70 were injured after a Russian strike on the Ukrainian capital on Thursday. “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing.
Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!," he wrote.
Expanding on his comments in the Oval Office, Mr Trump said: "I didn't like last night['s attack on Kiev]… we were in the midst of talking peace and missiles were fired." President Trump made the remarks following a meeting with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in the Oval Office. Picture: Getty However, the American leader didn't believe the latest Putin onslaught was a "barrage to peace" and suggested ceasefire meetings were taking place "right now".
Asked when he thought Russia would accept a peace deal, Mr Trump said: "I think we're going to get this over with, I hope so. Soon." Mr Trump's remarks comes as the UK also stepped up demands on Putin to agree to an immediate ceasefire, with Sir Keir warning the world was in a “new era” of global insecurity and uncertainty as he visited the UK’s flagship aircraft carrier.
Sir Keir said the latest attack demonstrated that Mr Putin was “the aggressor here” – comments which came after Mr Trump suggested Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky was the barrier to peace. The US president accused his Ukrainian counterpart Mr Zelensky of making it “difficult to settle” the war with Russia over his opposition to recognising Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. But speaking on a visit to Bristol, Sir Keir said: “I think it’s a real reminder that Russia is the aggressor here and that is being felt by the Ukrainians, as it has been felt for three long years now.
“That’s why it’s important to get Russia to an unconditional ceasefire. “Obviously, we had talks in London this week, Paris last week. We’re making progress towards the ceasefire.
It’s got to be a lasting ceasefire. Sir Keir said the latest attack demonstrated that Mr Putin was “the aggressor here”. Picture: Getty “But these attacks – these awful attacks – are a real, human reminder of who is the aggressor here and the cost to the Ukrainian people.” Mr Trump later condemned the attacks himself, describing them as “very bad timing” amid his attempts to broker a peace.
Writing on his Truth Social platform earlier this week, the American president said: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, Stop!
5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal Done!” The US administration is urging Kyiv to accept Russia’s continued control of occupied Ukrainian regions and Moscow’s ownership of the Crimean peninsula as part of a peace settlement. Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, responding to an urgent question, told the House of Commons: “The UK’s position regarding Ukrainian sovereignty is well known and our position has not changed, and we do not recognise Russian sovereignty over any territory illegally seized from Ukraine, including Crimea.
“And when, how and what terms this war comes to an end can only be decided by negotiations, with Ukraine at the heart.” Mr Doughty earlier said the UK condemned “Russia’s most brutal missile and drone attacks on civilians, including overnight”, describing them as “absolutely horrific scenes”. The minister said talks held in London between the UK, France, Germany, the US and Ukraine were “productive and successful”, adding: “Significant progress was made in reaching a common position on next steps and all agreed to continue close co-ordination and look forward to further talks soon.” But the talks between the nations on Wednesday were downgraded to technical discussions after US secretary of state Marco Rubio decided not to attend. Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “For all the talks that are taking place, it is concerning that a clear, unified front in support of Ukraine which secures a peace on their terms has yet to emerge.” Downing Street insisted it was not “taking sides” between Ukraine and the US in the talks.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We share President Trump’s desire to bring this barbaric war to an end and we are, as you saw in the talks yesterday in London, working closely with the US and other international partners to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, but we have been clear it remains the case that how and on what terms that war comes to end can only be decided by Ukraine.”
