Trump left Vatican, refusing to continue dialogue with Zelenskyy after Pope's funeral

U.S. President Donald Trump refused to continue his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Vatican.

The U.S. president was unable to continue the negotiations as his schedule required him to leave Rome immediately after the funeral of Pope Francis. Trump and Zelenskyy were able to have a brief meeting at St. Peter's Basilica, which lasted about 15 minutes, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Earlier, Sky News reported that Trump and Zelenskyy agreed to continue the talks after the ceremony.

​At Pope Francis's funeral on April 26, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a private, 15-minute meeting—marking their first face-to-face encounter since a contentious White House meeting in February. Both sides described the discussion as "very productive," with Zelenskyy expressing hope for peace and cooperation.

The meeting took place before the funeral service at St. Peter's Basilica, where Trump and Zelenskyy were seated in the front row—a notable departure from traditional Vatican protocol, which typically reserves such seating for senior clergy and royalty. During their conversation, Trump criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for continued missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians, suggesting that Putin is not genuinely seeking peace.

Following the meeting, both leaders agreed to continue their discussions, signaling a potential shift toward renewed diplomatic engagement.

Trump, who arrived in Rome with his wife Melania to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, was also scheduled to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

By Khagan Isayev