US president admits to concern Russian counterpart does not want to ‘stop the war’ and ponders new approach to Moscow
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have sat down for a face-to-face talk in the opulent halls of a Vatican basilica to discuss a possible ceasefire, after which the US president accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of not wanting to “stop the war”.
The White House described Trump’s meeting with the Ukrainian leader before Pope Francis’s funeral as “very productive”, while Zelenskyy said on X that the talk with the US president was symbolic and had the “potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”.
It was the first time that Zelenskyy and Trump had met face to face after a frosty February encounter in the White House where Trump and the US vice-president, JD Vance, berated the Ukrainian leader and accused him of ingratitude for US aid.
Conducting that meeting in that place at such a time seems quite inappropriate and disrespectful.
I’m pretty sure the dead Pope wouldn’t ask for more respect to be given to him than to the living people of Ukraine and to the thousands of Ukrainian people who have died to defend a free Europe.
Perhaps, but I think Pope Francis would have given his blessing if there was even the slightest chance of it leading to a lasting peace.
Sideline meetings happen all the time. It’s not a new thing. World leaders can show compassion for the deceased and handle their shit all in the same day.