An unexpected meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took place at Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter's Basilica. This was their first face-to-face meeting since a previous Oval Office dispute. The meeting, orchestrated by European officials hoping to facilitate peace talks, occurred amidst the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The encounter was a blend of diplomatic efforts and coincidence. European officials had been pushing for a meeting for days, believing a personal discussion could be beneficial. The meeting itself took place unexpectedly as both leaders happened to be at St. Peter's simultaneously.
Following the meeting, Trump expressed a more critical stance toward Vladimir Putin than previously seen, raising hopes for a shift in US approach to the conflict. While the specifics of their conversation remain private, Trump reported Zelensky's request for more weapons and mentioned a discussion about Crimea. Despite this, the actual impact of the meeting on the war's resolution remains unclear, with Trump expressing both optimism and frustration regarding the process. Uncertainty continues about the long-term effects of this unexpected encounter.