Donald Trump says he views Volodomyr Zelenskyy as 'calmer' following Vatican talks
President Donald Trump said he viewed his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy as "calmer" and more interested in reaching a peace accord following their sit-down inside the Vatican this weekend.
Trump called the meeting "beautiful" and said Zelenskyy asked for more weapons during the 15-minute session.
Trump continued voicing his frustration at President Vladimir Putin for launching a missile attack on Kyiv, and said he could not say for sure whether the Russian leader was serious about ending the war.
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US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in St Peter's Basilica on Saturday, April 26, 2025. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office
"I think the meeting went well. We'll see what happens over the next few days. We'll probably learn a lot. I was very disappointed that missiles were flying by Russia," Trump said as he was departing New Jersey, where he spent part of the weekend at his golf club.
He said during his meeting at St Peter's with Zelenskyy they briefly discussed the issue of Crimea, which the US would recognise as Russian under an American peace proposal that Zelenskyy has rejected.
Trump denied his relationship with Zelenskyy was ever bad, saying instead their televised dispute in February was merely a small obstacle.
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Volodomyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump held peace talks on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral at the Vatican. They are pictured here talking in a group with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer. Ukrainian Presidential Press Ser
Trump made the comments about the "beautiful" meeting with Zelenskyy before he boarded Air Force One in New Jersey. AP
"I see him as calmer. I think he understands the picture. And I think he wants to make a deal," Trump said.
Putin, he said, needed to demonstrate a commitment to ending the war.
"I want him to stop shooting, sit down and sign a deal," Trump said. "We have the confines of a deal, I believe, and I want him to sign it and be done with it and just go back to life."
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