A surprise meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky at the Vatican following the Pope's funeral prompted a significant change in Trump's public statements regarding the war in Ukraine. The meeting, facilitated by the Vatican, was described as 'productive' by both sides, although details remain undisclosed.
Following the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social a message expressing suspicion towards Putin's intentions in the war and suggesting a need for a different approach towards Russia. This marked a departure from his previous rhetoric.
The article also highlights a new Ukrainian peace proposal, supported by France and Great Britain, which involves European security forces with American protection to secure ceasefire lines and release frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian reconstruction. This proposal doesn't explicitly mention NATO membership or military recapture of lost territories. Russia has declared its readiness for unconditional talks, although the article notes the unreliability of Moscow's words.
The article emphasizes the role of the Vatican in potentially brokering peace, citing previous instances where the Pope has influenced geopolitical events, including a rapprochement between the US and Cuba in 2014.
Despite the seemingly positive developments, the article concludes by highlighting that significant obstacles remain to achieving a lasting peace, especially considering the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine and the uncertainty surrounding Moscow's intentions.