Donald Trump made bombshell admission to Zelensky during Pope funeral faceoff
While President Donald Trump pushed President Volodymyr Zelensky to sign the US-Ukraine mineral deal - which was formally agreed last night - Zelensky wanted Trump to take a harsher stance on Putin
Donald Trump made a bombshell admission during his sit down with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at the funeral of Pope Francis last week. At the historic event on Saturday, two months after Zelensky left the White House in a huff following a disastrous meeting about the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War, the world leaders met face-to-face for the first time in the hallowed St Peter's Basilica.
While the discussion itself was photographed and beamed across the world, people had to rely on lip readers and body language experts to discern the content of the conversation - until now. According to US outlet Axios, Zelensky warned Trump that he would not change course on the invasion unless he was forced to do so. A source said Trump has acknowledged that he may have to change tact in regards to how he's been managing Vladimir Putin.
Shortly after the meeting, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to slam Putin over a missile strike in Kyiv. It read: "It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through "Banking" or "Secondary Sanctions?" Too many people are dying!!!"
Reports say Zelensky also asked Trump to demand an unconditional ceasefire as a foundation for negotiations, which was his original position. A source told Axios that Trump seems to have agreed to it.
However, Axios said that Trump had his own demands to make, including pushing him to sign the US- Ukraine mineral deal which would give Washington access to the country's rich mineral reserves.
The US Treasury announced it signed the deal with Ukraine on Wednesday evening, agreeing to establish an America-Ukraine reconstruction investment fund. For Ukraine, the deal is seen as key move to gain access to future US military aid in its war against Russia.
Some believe the reason the meeting was more productive was because White house envoy Steve Witkoff and vice president JD Vance - who was seen provoking Zelensky in front of the world's news media - were not present. Speaking to ABC News yesterday, Trump admitted that Putin "could be tapping me on a little bit". But he still believes Putin wants to end the war.
Trump added he thinks Zelensky could be ready to make a major concession - the Russian annexation of Crimea - to secure a lasting peace with Putin. "Oh, I think so," the U.S. president said after the meeting in the Vatican.
In February, Trump hinted at his desire for access to Ukraine's rare earth materials, framing it as compensation for the billions of dollars in US aid provided to Kyiv. But negotiations broke down after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky - which descended into a shouting match - and efforts to reach a deal had faltered amid strained US-Ukraine relations.
On Wednesday, Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced she had signed an agreement to establish the investment fund.
Svyrydenko said on X: "Together with the United States, we are creating the fund that will attract global investment into our country. Its implementation allows both countries to expand their economic potential through equal cooperation and investment.
"The United States will contribute to the fund. In addition to direct financial contributions, it may also provide new assistance - for example air defense systems for Ukraine."
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said: "Truly, this is a strategic deal for the creation of an investment partner fund. This is truly an equal and good international deal on joint investment in the development and restoration of Ukraine between the governments of the United States and Ukraine."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
20 minutes ago
- Daily Record
Elon Musk deletes explosive Trump claim off social media as feud boils over
Elon Musk has sparked a political firestorm after posting — then deleting — a bombshell claim linking Donald Trump to Jeffrey Epstein. Elon Musk has deleted a post from his social media platform that made an explosive claim about Donald Trump. The billionaire tech mogul, who owns X (formerly Twitter), posted that Trump's name was mentioned in FBI files related to deceased paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – a claim the former president swiftly denied on his own platform, Truth Social. Musk had written: "Time to drop the really big bomb: Donald Trump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!" He followed it up with another cryptic post: "Mark this post for the future. The truth will come out." Both messages were taken down earlier today. Trump hit back by reposting a message from his lawyer David Schoen, who said: "I was hired to lead Jeffrey Epstein's defence as his criminal lawyer 9 days before he died. He sought my advice for months before that. "I can say authoritatively, unequivocally, and definitively that he had no information to hurt President Trump. I specifically asked him!" Despite removing the bombshell post, there's little sign of the row between Musk and Trump easing any time soon, reports the Mirror. Musk's X account still features posts from recent days attacking Trump's proposed budget as an 'abomination,' predicting that his tariff plans would push the US into a recession later this year, and even calling for Trump's impeachment – suggesting Vice President JD Vance should replace him. According to reports, the feud intensified after Trump pulled his nomination of Jared Isaacson – a known Musk ally – to lead NASA. The New York Times reported Trump changed course after learning Isaacson had made donations to Democratic candidates, questioning his loyalty. In yet another deleted post, Musk hinted at reconciliation – but with conditions. "I'll offer a full throated apology only if there's a full dump of the Epstein files," he wrote. While Trump once vowed to release all records related to Epstein after taking office, that promise remains unfulfilled. FBI director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino – both longtime Trump allies – have since publicly distanced themselves from many of the conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein's death, theories that remain widespread among parts of the MAGA movement. In one bizarre episode, a group of social media influencers were invited to the White House and handed what were touted as 'the Epstein Files.' They later admitted the documents contained nothing new – only information already in the public domain. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
South Wales Guardian
43 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Deadly Russian attack hits eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv
The first wave on Ukraine's second-largest city was a large Russian drone-and-missile attack in the early hours. It killed at least three people and wounded 21 others, according to local officials. I received a report from our team on their visit and meetings in the United States. Defense support for Ukraine, sanctions against Russia, diplomatic prospects, as well as the defense of freedom and countering Russian disinformation. We gave our partners a detailed overview of… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2025 In the afternoon, Russia dropped aerial bombs on the city centre, killing at least one person and wounding five more, Kharkiv's mayor said. The warring sides also accused each other of trying to sabotage a planned prisoner exchange, nearly a week after Kyiv embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprise drone attack on military airfields deep inside Russia. Saturday's barrage – the latest in near daily widescale attacks on Ukraine – included aerial glide bombs that have become part of a fierce Russian onslaught in the all-out war, which began on February 24 2022. Ukraine's air force said that Russia struck with 215 missiles and drones overnight, and Ukrainian air defences shot down 87 drones and seven missiles. Several other areas in Ukraine were also hit, including the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and the city of Ternopil, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said in an X post. 'To put an end to Russia's killing and destruction, more pressure on Moscow is required, as are more steps to strengthen Ukraine,' he said. The Russian defence ministry said its forces carried out a night-time strike on Ukrainian military targets, including ammunition depots, drone assembly workshops, and weaponry repair stations. There was no comment from Moscow on the reports of casualties in Kharkiv. Kharkiv's mayor, Ihor Terekhov, said that the strikes also damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes. Mr Terekhov said that it was 'the most powerful attack' on the city since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Kharkiv's regional governor, Oleh Syniehubov, said the morning's attacks saw two districts in the city struck with three missiles, five aerial glide bombs and 48 drones. Among the wounded were two children, a baby boy and a 14-year-old girl, he added. Six people are believed to be trapped under the rubble of an industrial facility in Kharkiv's Kyiv district, The Kharkiv prosecutor's office said in a statement on Telegram. Contact with those trapped was lost and rescue attempts have been ongoing since early afternoon, it said, without naming the facility. On Saturday afternoon, Russian aerial bombs struck Kharkiv again, killing at least one person and wounding five others, the mayor said. Today, rescue and emergency operations continued all day across various regions and cities of our country. Over 400 drones, more than 40 missiles were launched by the Russians. 80 people were injured, and some may still be under the debris. And unfortunately, not everyone in the… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2025 The morning strikes also wounded two people in the Dnipropetrovsk province further south, according to local governor Serhii Lysak. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry said that its forces shot down 36 Ukrainian drones overnight, over the country's south and west, including near the capital. Drone debris wounded two civilians in the suburbs of Moscow, governor Andrei Vorobyov reported. A US-led diplomatic push for a settlement has brought two rounds of direct peace talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine, though the negotiations delivered no significant breakthroughs. But both sides remain far apart on their terms for an end to the fighting.
NBC News
an hour ago
- NBC News
Trump says he thinks the government has a ‘very easy case' against Kilmar Abrego Garcia
President Donald Trump on Saturday said that it wasn't his decision to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, back to the U.S. to face federal charges, saying the 'Department of Justice decided to do it that way, and that's fine.' 'That wasn't my decision,' Trump said of Abrego Garcia's return in a phone call with NBC News on Saturday. 'It should be a very easy case' for federal prosecutors, the president added. Trump added that he did not speak with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele about Abrego Garcia's return, even though the two men spoke about Abrego Garcia during an April meeting in the Oval Office. His remarks came after Abrego Garcia arrived back in the U.S. on Friday and was charged in an indictment alleging he transported people who were not legally in the country. The indictment came amid a protracted legal battle over whether to bring him back from El Salvador that escalated all the way up to the Supreme Court. Abrego Garcia's family and lawyers have called him a family man, while Trump and his administration have alleged that he is a member of the gang MS-13. The case drew national attention amid the Trump administration's broader push for mass deportations. After Abrego Garcia's deportation, lawyers for the Trump administration said he was deported in an ' administrative error,' as Abrego Garcia had previous legal protection from deportation to El Salvador. Still, the Trump administration did not attempt to bring Abrego Garcia back, even as the Supreme Court ruled that it had to ' facilitate ' his return to the U.S. Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., had for weeks said that Abrego Garcia was denied due process when he was detained and deported, arguing that he should have been allowed to defend himself from deportation before he was sent to El Salvador. Trump on Saturday called Van Hollen, who went to visit Abrego Garcia in jail in El Salvador in April, a 'loser' for defending the man's right to due process. 'He's a loser. The guy's a loser. They're going to lose because of that same thing. That's not what people want to hear,' the president said about Van Hollen. 'He's trying to defend a man who's got a horrible record of abuse, abuse of women in particular. No, he's a total loser, this guy.' On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged that Abrego Garcia 'was a smuggler of humans and children and women. He made over 100 trips, the grand jury found, smuggling people throughout our country.' In a statement Friday, Abrego Garcia's lawyer called Bondi's move 'an abuse of power, not justice.'
