Zelensky pleaded with Trump in Vatican
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky tried to persuade US President Donald Trump during their brief conversation at the Vatican not to give up on his efforts to settle the conflict between Moscow and Kiev, according to The Economist.
Trump and Zelensky got together for some 15 minutes on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral on Saturday.
The negotiations 'produced a striking photograph of the two men sitting in St. Peter's Basilica, locked in conversation as apparent political equals,' The Economist wrote on Tuesday.
Ukrainian sources told the outlet that Zelensky used the discussions 'to deliver a simple message: Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire, Russia is not, and Mr. Trump should not abandon a peace that only he can deliver.'
Russia previously called the 30-day ceasefire demanded by Kiev 'unrealistic,' stressing that talks can take place without a pause in the fighting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned over the weekend that Washington could disengage from the peace process if it does not see rapid progress from Russia and Ukraine towards an end to the fighting.
The mood in Ukraine is now 'cautiously optimistic' because the officials in Kiev believe that 'after months of threats and blackmail,' Trump has finally started 'to respect' Zelensky, the Economist wrote.
The talks at the Vatican became the first in-person conversation between the two leaders since their meeting at the Oval Office in late February, which devolved into a shouting match in front of the cameras.
At the time, Trump and US Vice President J.D. Vance accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for the American aid and not being interested in peace. The public quarrel resulted in the Ukrainian leader's visit to the White House being cut short.
Following the meeting at the Vatican, Trump described Zelensky as 'calmer,' saying that the Ukrainian leader now 'understands the picture. And I think he wants to make a deal. I do not know if he wanted to make a deal [before]. I think he wants to make a deal.'
On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow's readiness to engage in direct talks with Kiev without any preconditions.
As for the ceasefire, Russia considers it 'a precondition that will be used to further support the Kiev regime and strengthen its military capabilities,' he explained.
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