Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump held a meeting in Rome ahead of Pope Francis’ funeral.
Officials from both sides confirmed the meeting had been held, and the White House described it as “very productive.” There is no further details for the discussion.
Trump and Zelensky are joining other heads of state and royal family in the Vatican City services, including Prince William, British Prime Minister Sir Kyle Stamer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump said Russia and Ukraine were “very close to the deal” after talks Friday with his envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung said more details about the private meeting between Trump and Zelensky held Saturday.
Friday’s meeting was Witkoff’s fourth visit to Russia since the beginning of the year, which was later held for three-hour talks, which was later described as “very useful” by Putin’s aide Yuri Yuri Ushakov.
Ushakov also added that it brought “Russia and the United States closer to the stance, not only in Ukraine, but also on a range of other international issues.” Among them, “specially discusses the possibility of direct negotiations between the representatives of Russia and Ukraine”.








