Trump and Zelensky's First Meeting Since Oval Office Clash Held Before Pope’s Funeral

During their initial encounter following a heated argument in the Oval Office, President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met again, this time sitting opposite each other on plain chairs placed on the marble floor of the Baptistery Chapel at St. Peter’s Basilica.

Among the 54 heads of state and 12 ruling monarchs present in Rome on Saturday for Pope Francis’s funeral were these two leaders. The event took place as Trump found himself amidst growing controversy. global trade conflict And with difficult negotiations aimed at concluding two conflicts, the journey was destined to result in some strained interactions.

Zelensky characterized it as a positive discussion. "We had extensive one-on-one talks," he posted on X soon afterward. Steven Cheung, the White House communications director, mentioned that the meeting was "highly fruitful."

The two leaders, appearing serious, sat closely side-by-side with neither staff nor interpreters around them, engaging in conversation for about 15 minutes beneath a depiction of Christ’s baptism. They were joined shortly by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer who exchanged brief greetings.

Zelensky mentioned that they talked about a complete and unconditional ceasefire along with the prerequisites for enduring peace. He also noted that this could turn into an "historic" gathering and expressed his gratitude towards Trump.

Trump subsequently took to social media to criticize Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning of additional sanctions against Moscow. "There was absolutely no justification for Putin to launch missile strikes at residential zones, cities, and villages over the past several days. This leads me to believe that perhaps he does not intend to cease hostilities; instead, he might merely be playing games with us," Trump stated.

When the monitors displayed Zelensky making his entrance, the gathering of people outside St. Peter’s Basilica clapped in response.

Trump sat in the first row For the ceremony involving two strongly pro-Ukraine leaders, Estonian President Alar Karis and Finnish President Alexander Stubb, both presidents were arranged in alphabetical order by their countries' names in French. In this ordering, using the French alphabet, Estonia starts with an "E."

Seated in the rows behind the pope in Vatican City's St. Peter’s Square was Donald Trump’s previous rival, ex-President Joe Biden. Before attending the ceremony, when questioned about potentially engaging with Biden, Trump stated, "Interacting isn’t really at the top of my priorities." Previously, Trump had teased Biden over securing a spot in the 14th row during the memorial service for Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II.

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who has previously spoken out against Trump’s tariffs and stance on the Ukraine conflict, has been unable to secure a meeting with Trump ever since he began his new term.

All of Donald Trump’s visits to other nations and their reciprocal trips involve everyone being cautious—except for him," stated Tony Travers, a political science professor at the London School of Economics. "Bringing so many key figures together creates challenges as well as possibilities.

The American leader was also greeted by several familiar faces, including Argentine President Javier Milei and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni .

Arriving in Rome late Friday, Trump stated that his attendance at the funeral was due to his respect for the recently deceased Pope, whom he characterized as a kind individual. "This pope had compassion for those struggling around the globe—an attitude I appreciate," Trump remarked.

The President of the United States had a rocky relationship With Francis, who condemned Trump’s stances on immigration and environmental issues. In 2016, Francis challenged Trump’s plan to construct a wall along the Mexican border, stating that someone contemplating such barriers instead of fostering connections cannot be considered Christian. Trump responded by calling it "outrageous" for a spiritual figure to cast doubt upon another individual’s religion.

The dispute persisted during the last months of his papacy. In February, Francis issued a sharply worded letter criticizing U.S. bishops for failing to adequately oppose the president’s proposals for widespread deportations. Trump's border chief Tom Homan proposed that the pope was displaying hypocrisy regarding immigration policies, noting that the Vatican itself is enclosed by walls for protection.

Major international events such as a papal funeral have previously resulted in diplomatic blunders or controversies. During these occasions, Funeral service for Pope John Paul II In 2005, people gathered around the Vatican booed as TV screens displayed former U.S. President George W. Bush, who initiated the Iraq War. Bush sat near officials from Syria, Cuba, and Iran but did not acknowledge them with greetings.

Then-Prince Charles, currently the U.K.'s King Charles III , however, was criticized at home for shaking the hand of Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe during the 2005 funeral. Mugabe was a pariah at the time for his poor human rights record. Palace officials said Charles was caught by surprise when Mugabe reached over to greet him.

In previous events, Trump has experienced diplomatic disagreements. At the 2018 G-7 gathering, he argued with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel as well as other Western leaders. During a 2017 NATO summit, he also pushed his way ahead of the Prime Minister of Montenegro to secure a better position for a collective picture.

The American president appears to relish the grandeur and pageantry associated with major gatherings. Having spoken so enthusiastically about his 2019 state trip to the U.K., he has been granted an unusual second state visit by the British government, partly as they hope this might offer some protection against the brunt of Trump’s trade disputes. Additionally, Trump made another journey to the area. official resumption ceremony for the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris last December.

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