Trump Questions Putin's Commitment to Peace After Meeting with Zelenskyy

Former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met face-to-face at the Vatican before Pope Francis’s funeral, marking their first encounter since tensions flared earlier in the year. Both leaders described the 15-minute conversation as productive and potentially historic, with discussions focused on achieving a complete and unconditional ceasefire and establishing a reliable, lasting peace in Ukraine. Following the meeting, Trump expressed skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin's willingness to end the conflict, highlighting recent Russian attacks on civilian areas and suggesting that further sanctions against Russia might be necessary. The meeting comes amid ongoing, complex peace negotiations, with the U.S. and European leaders holding differing views on territorial concessions and the terms for a ceasefire. Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s stance that territorial issues should only be discussed after a ceasefire is reached, while also expressing hope that the dialogue with Trump would yield results. The encounter has raised hopes for a shift in U.S. strategy and renewed efforts to end the war.