US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy met face-to-face in a Vatican basilica, discussing a possible ceasefire in the war between Ukraine and Russia. The White House described their meeting as “very productive,” while Zelenskyy said it was symbolic but had potential to become historic.
The talks came after a frosty February encounter at the White House, where Trump and US Vice-President JD Vance berated Zelenskyy over US aid. Trump also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin on social media, saying Putin’s actions “make me think he doesn’t want to stop the war.”
Washington is engaged in intense mediation between Ukraine and Russia, which have been at war since 2022. Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin earlier this week, discussing Washington’s peace proposal. The US wants Moscow to retain some of the territory it has captured, including Crimea, but Zelenskyy insists that the territory belongs to Ukraine.
Despite progress in talks, significant differences remain between the US and Ukrainian positions on a ceasefire deal. The technical details of the deal still need to be hammered out, including how Western sanctions would be lifted and what security guarantees would be offered to Ukraine.
Fighting continues between the two sides, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine for a recent car bomb that killed a senior Russian general. Trump has warned that the US will halt its mediation efforts if an agreement is not reached soon.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/apr/26/trump-and-zelenskyy-hold-very-productive-ceasefire-talks-in-rome