Zelenskyy meets Trump for first time since White House fallout
Photo: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump on April 26. Both leaders are in Rome to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, according to the President's Press Secretary Serhii Nikiforov.
Zelenskyy and Trump arrived at the Vatican, where the farewell ceremony for Pope Francis began at 11:00 AM today.
Trump and Zelenskyy appeared at the funeral ceremony with other world leaders in St. Peter's Square at the very start.
Sky News, citing sources in the Vatican, reported that Zelenskyy and Trump agreed to meet after the Pope’s funeral.
It is known that the US President will not stay in Rome for long. According to the schedule, Trump is set to head to the airport at 1:50 PM Kyiv time.
It is worth noting that a day before the visit to Rome, Donald Trump stated he might meet with Zelenskyy. The President's Office did not provide any comments regarding the meeting, but AFP, citing a high-ranking official, reported that the meeting would take place.
Trump and Zelenskyy clash
This is the first in-person meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump after their clash in the Oval Office.
Recall that on February 28, Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House, where he met with US President Donald Trump. During the conversation in the Oval Office, a verbal clash erupted between Zelenskyy, Trump, and US Vice President JD Vance, in front of the journalists.
The quarrel concerned the war and the alleged ingratitude of Ukraine for the assistance provided. Media reports also mentioned that Trump was displeased that Zelenskyy had not worn a suit, as was customary.
Later, Zelenskyy left the White House, and the agreement regarding Ukrainian subsoil resources, which was planned to be signed, was not finalized.
European partners supported Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Western media wrote that Trump became angry with the Ukrainian president and believed he should have corrected the damage caused.
