Photo credit: www.yahoo.com
April 26 (UPI) — During the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky engaged in a productive discussion, as stated by the White House on Saturday.
This marked their first face-to-face meeting since February, lasting approximately 15 minutes, with both leaders agreeing to keep the lines of communication open, according to officials from both nations told CNN.
Notably, Trump and Zelensky were not seated near one another during the funeral. The seating arrangement was organized by country in French, placing Trump alongside leaders from Estonia and Finland.
Both presidents were present with French President Emmanuel Macron during the ceremony.
After the funeral, the two leaders shared photos on social media, showing them at a small table indoors, indicating they had a significant one-on-one conversation.
Zelensky wrote on X, “We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for positive outcomes on the issues we addressed. Our priority remains the protection of our citizens and achieving a full and unconditional ceasefire. This potentially historic meeting could lead to joint successes.” He expressed gratitude to @Potus for the engagement.
In contrast, Trump used the occasion to criticize several individuals, including New York Times reporter Peter Baker, former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in a lengthy post on Truth Social, which garnered significant attention.
He asserted, “No matter what deal I make regarding Russia and Ukraine, regardless of its potential effectiveness, the press will inevitably criticize it.” He further attacked Baker’s reporting and reiterated his belief that the ongoing conflict stemmed from policies enacted during the Obama and Biden administrations.
Trump sharply criticized Putin’s military actions, stating, “There is no justification for Putin’s missile strikes on civilian areas. This raises questions about his true intentions in the conflict.” He emphasized the need for a different approach to dealing with Russia, highlighting the tragic consequences of the war.
This encounter was the first time the two leaders met since their contentious meeting in the Oval Office on February 28, where tensions escalated. During that session, Trump lambasted Zelensky, accusing him of jeopardizing global stability by mishandling the situation.
Despite initial plans for a joint news conference following their February meeting, that was canceled amid strife. Subsequently, Trump temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine, which resumed following Kyiv’s acceptance of a U.S.-proposed partial ceasefire.
Recently, Trump has accused Zelensky of undermining peace negotiations, particularly due to Ukraine’s refusal to recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a situation he claims complicates any potential agreements.
Zelensky reaffirmed Ukraine’s stance against recognizing the occupation, stating, “There is no discussion to be had regarding our rightful territories.” He concluded that Ukraine currently lacks the military capacity to reclaim Crimea.
As the U.S. continues to seek peace between Russia and Ukraine, recent meetings, including a three-hour session with a U.S. special envoy in Moscow, have taken place amid ongoing hostilities.
Following Trump’s arrival in Rome, he remarked on social media about positive developments in discussions with both Russia and Ukraine, asserting that an agreement was imminent for ending the violence and reaffirming the U.S.’s commitment to facilitating these peace efforts.
The Kremlin, however, has made claims that all Ukrainian forces have retreated from the Kursk region, which Ukrainian officials categorically denied. Russia’s recent military actions included launching numerous missiles and drones targeting key Ukrainian cities, further escalating the conflict.
In a follow-up post, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the strikes on Kyiv, urging for an expedited peace deal as casualties continue to rise. The ongoing situation remains precarious, with international efforts to stabilize the region still underway.
Source
www.yahoo.com