Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: More than 70 martyrs in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn.
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City

Zelensky, Trump hold 'very productive' talks before Pope's funeral

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 26 Apr 2025 18:13
3 Min Read

Photos showed the two leaders engaged in a serious discussion just minutes before the funeral began.

Listen
  • x
  • Zelensky and Trump meet before Pope's funeral
    Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump talk as they attend the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican, on April 26, 2025. (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump met inside St. Peter's Basilica shortly before Pope Francis' funeral.

The White House called the 15-minute conversation "very productive", while Zelensky described it as "very symbolic" and potentially "historic".

Photos showed the two leaders engaged in a serious discussion just minutes before the funeral began.

Their meeting followed Trump’s announcement that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal,” after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday.

'Symbolic' with potential to be 'historic' 

Andriy Yermak, head of Zelensky’s office, posted a photo of the meeting with a single word: “constructive".

Related News

Trump says Gaza peace deal entering ‘phase two’

Donroe Doctrine: Trump’s neocolonial drive in Latin America

Trump and Zelensky held their first meeting since a tense February encounter, engaging in a serious one-on-one discussion at St. Peter's Basilica, which Zelensky called "symbolic" with the potential to be "historic" if it leads to results, despite Trump repeating his claim that Ukraine has "no cards to play."

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha captioned the image on X, saying, "No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter's Basilica."

No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica. pic.twitter.com/drpwPzM4wN

— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) April 26, 2025

Diplomacy at the heart of funeral

A photo shared by the Ukrainian delegation showed Zelensky and Trump standing with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, implying that the two leaders helped facilitate the meeting, which took place before Pope Francis’ funeral.

Upon his arrival, Zelensky sat with Trump in the front row, separated by other world leaders, while Cardinal Re used his homily to echo Pope Francis’ frequent call to “build bridges, not walls.”

Although Ukrainian officials had hoped for a second meeting, Trump departed St. Peter's and left Rome shortly after the funeral, while Zelensky held separate talks with Macron and Keir Starmer and is expected to meet with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Meanwhile, Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff concluded his fourth visit to Moscow, with Russian officials describing the talks as "very useful" and suggesting progress toward reopening direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

Ushakov also described the  "Russian and US positions closer together, not just on Ukraine but also on a range of other international issues" of which the "possibility of resuming direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives was in particular discussed."

In a tense February meeting, Trump accused Zelensky of "gambling with World War Three" by resisting US-backed ceasefire plans, as Kiev faces increasing pressure from Trump to accept territorial concessions, including Crimea, to end the war, an idea Zelensky has consistently rejected, though he recently indicated a full ceasefire could open the door to broader talks.

  • Pope Francis
  • pope francis death
  • Donald Trump
  • US President Donald Trump
  • Ukraine
  • Kiev
  • Russia
  • Volodymyr Zelensky

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Saudi's PIF refocuses on AI, logistics, and religious tourism
Economy

Saudi Arabia's fund refocuses on AI, logistics, and religious tourism

Detained Bahraini activist al-Khawaja starts new hunger strike.
Politics

Detained Bahraini activist al-Khawaja starts new hunger strike

Israel fortifies Gaza’s "yellow line," prepares to dig in.
Politics

'Israel' fortifies Gaza’s 'yellow line,' prepares to dig in: WSJ

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One as he travels from Tokyo, Japan, to South Korea, on October 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
Asia

Trump’s weak dollar strategy risks global fallout: Forbes

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS