Are things changing?
Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reunited in Rome for the first time since their contentious encounter at the White House earlier this year. The two leaders crossed paths during the funeral ceremonies for Pope Francis, though the exact timing of their private meeting remains unclear.
Details about their conversation were scarce, but White House Communications Director Steven Cheung described it as “a very productive discussion.” Zelenskyy later posted on social media, calling the meeting “very symbolic” and suggesting it could become “historic” in the context of global events.
Their interaction follows a heated dispute in February, where Zelenskyy reportedly stormed out of a White House meeting after a disagreement with Trump and Vice President JD Vance. In a later interview with Fox News’ Bret Baier, Zelenskyy acknowledged that the clash had been damaging for both parties.
The meeting also occurs as peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia remain stalled, with both sides sticking to firm demands. Trump, upon arriving in Rome, expressed optimism on Truth Social, stating that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal” and encouraging immediate high-level talks to “finish it off” and stop the ongoing bloodshed. Despite his recent criticisms of both Putin and Zelenskyy, Trump insisted that the U.S. would assist in facilitating an end to the conflict.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin has so far rebuffed U.S. peace initiatives, officials remain hopeful that Trump’s involvement could lead to progress. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the conflict was “endable” and highlighted recent productive meetings focused on brokering a resolution. Trump, maintaining confidence in his personal peace timeline, stated that he sees “a very good chance” of finalizing an agreement soon.
