Why Trump changed his attitude to Ukraine after Vatican: Zelenskyy's office comments

According to Yermak, such a short meeting can change a lot. He explained that the meeting was originally scheduled to take place after Pope's funeral. And if the plans had been realized as originally envisioned, it would have been a different meeting, and perhaps it would not have taken place as it did.

He also emphasized that changes in relations between Ukraine and the United States became possible only after the presidents could talk one-on-one.

"I didn't hear the conversation. I only know what the President told me afterward. It was a meeting they agreed would mostly remain between them," Yermak added.

The head of the President's Office believes that during this meeting, the Presidents "understood each other and felt the honesty of intent." According to him, it was important for the President of Ukraine to feel Trump's sincere desire to end the war, and for the US president to understand the sincerity of the Ukrainian President in his struggle, in the struggle of Ukraine, in the desire to end this war with a just peace.

Zelenskyy and Trump meet

On April 26, Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump held a brief meeting at the Vatican, where they both came to participate in the farewell ceremony for Pope Francis. The meeting lasted only 15 minutes and took place in St. Peter's Basilica before the pontiff's funeral. Both leaders described it as productive.

This was Zelenskyy's first meeting with Trump after the verbal altercation that took place at the White House on February 28.

According to Zelenskyy, he and Trump discussed signing a minerals deal, sanctions packages against Russia, and air defense systems.

Read more about how the US strategy has changed after the meeting of the Presidents in the Vatican in RBC-Ukraine's article.