Zelensky and Trump hold special talk at Vatican

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently engaged in a direct conversation within the lavish surroundings of a Vatican basilica, focusing on the possibility of a ‘ceasefire. ‘

Following their meeting, Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of lacking the desire to end the conflict. 

The White House characterized the discussion as “very productive,” while Zelenskyy noted on X that the dialogue held symbolic significance and could potentially lead to “historic outcomes” if mutual results are achieved. This encounter marked their first face-to-face meeting since a tense February session at the White House, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for perceived ingratitude towards U.S. support. 

Trump later wrote on  social media to condemn Putin’s recent missile strikes on civilian areas, suggesting that the Russian leader may not genuinely seek to halt the war. 

Meanwhile, Washington is actively mediating between Ukraine and Russia, which have been in conflict since Russia’s invasion in 2022. 

Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow to discuss a peace proposal, with Trump claiming that most key points have been agreed upon. He called for a meeting between the leaders of Kyiv and Moscow to finalize a ceasefire agreement, although significant discrepancies remain between the U.S. vision for peace and the conditions acceptable to Ukraine and its European allies.

Sets of peace proposals released by Reuters on Friday indicate that the United States is suggesting Russia retain control over territories it has seized, including the strategically significant Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. This proposal appears to be unacceptable to Ukraine and its European allies, as President Zelenskyy firmly said that the territory rightfully belongs to the Ukrainian people.

 He reiterated Ukraine’s stance, emphasizing that the constitution clearly designates all temporarily occupied areas as Ukrainian territory. Additionally, it remains uncertain whether Moscow will accept the US peace initiative, which is perceived as making significant concessions to Russia. 

On Saturday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that all Ukrainian forces had been expelled from Russia’s Kursk region, a key objective for Moscow, although Ukrainian officials contested this assertion. The specifics of a potential ceasefire agreement still require negotiation, particularly regarding the lifting of Western sanctions on Russia and the security guarantees that would be extended to Ukraine.