ROME — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and US President Donald Trump met inside St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of Pope Francis' funeral, marking a symbolic encounter amid renewed discussions on ending the Ukraine war.

The White House described the 15-minute meeting as “very productive,” while Zelenskyy called it “very symbolic” and noted its “potential to become historic” if their discussions lead to tangible results.

Images shared by Ukrainian officials showed Trump and Zelenskyy seated in intense discussion moments before the funeral ceremony. Trump wore a blue suit, while Zelenskyy was dressed in black. Both leaders appeared deeply engrossed in conversation.

Posting on social media, Zelenskyy said: “Good meeting. We discussed a lot one-on-one. I hope for results on everything we said.” His chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, simply captioned the image “constructive.”

The meeting came shortly after Trump claimed that Russia and Ukraine were “very close to a deal,” following talks between his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha shared a photo of the meeting, calling it “historic,” and emphasized the two leaders' shared commitment to peace.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron were also pictured speaking with Trump and Zelenskyy during the gathering inside St. Peter’s, suggesting a coordinated effort to facilitate the meeting.

After the private meeting, Trump and Zelenskyy took their seats at the funeral service, separated by several dignitaries including Macron. Trump's motorcade departed immediately after the service, while Zelenskyy continued separate meetings with Macron and Starmer, and was scheduled to meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Trump's envoy, Witkoff, recently concluded his fourth visit to Russia this year, with the Kremlin calling the talks "very useful" and highlighting a narrowing gap between US and Russian positions on Ukraine.

During February’s tense Oval Office meeting, Trump reportedly told Zelenskyy he was “gambling with World War Three” by rejecting US ceasefire proposals. Trump has since pressured Kyiv to consider territorial concessions, including Crimea, a move Zelenskyy has consistently rejected. — BBC