Vladimir Putin has come under fire from Donald Trump for “stringing him along” just hours after he and Volodymyr Zelensky held historic peace negotiations.
The two pulled up chairs to engage in a passionate one-on-one talk during the spontaneous meeting that took place within the revered St. Peter’s Basilica.
Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, described the 15-minute conversation as “good” despite their chilly exchange at the White House.
He stated: “We talked a lot one-on-one after the burial. I’m hoping that what we discussed will provide results. defending our people’s life.
This is a very meaningful meeting that could become historic if we can work together to achieve our goals.
“Very productive discussion” is another way the White House put it.
Trump later attacked Putin for “tapping him along” in a post on Truth Social.
He stated: “Putin has no justification for launching missiles on towns, cities, and residential areas in recent days.
“A complete and unqualified halt to hostilities. enduring and dependable peace that will keep another conflict from starting.
It makes me wonder whether he’s merely trying to push me along and doesn’t want to end the war. In that case, ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are losing their lives.
“This is Sleepy Joe Biden’s War, not mine,” the US president raged.
“It was a loser from day one, and should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened if I were President at the time,” he stated.
“I’m just trying to clean up the mess that was left to me by Obama and Biden, and what a mess it is.”
The leaders of the US and Ukraine have promised to continue their discussions in the days ahead.
Another unusual photo showed the two holding a brief meeting with Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.
During the heartfelt memorial service this morning, all of the world’s leaders were seated close to one another.
Trump and Zelensky watched from the front row with their wives, with just ten people standing between them.
After months of back and forth, everyone was curious to see how the two would connect.
Zelensky was named by the US president as the main barrier to a peace agreement with Ukraine just a few days ago.
Additionally, this is the first time the two leaders have spoken since their notorious February altercation in the Oval Office.
Before dismissing Zelensky from the White House, Trump chastised him for “gambling with World War Three”.
In the past, the Republican leader has even called Zelensky a dictator.
In Rome, the two sat with hundreds of foreign leaders, including prime ministers, presidents, and even royals.
With the crowds showing their support for Ukraine, Zelensky even received a round of applause when he sat down on the square.
The funeral ceremony was held in St. Peter’s Square just after nine in the morning UK time.
Before the homily portion, which was led by Giovanni Battista Re, 91, the dean of the College of Cardinals, there were a number of words and hymns.
Many of the leaders left Rome and headed home after the liturgy, with Trump and Melania seen quickly boarding Air Force One.
In order to see the Pope’s final trip to his ultimate burial place, thousands of mourners remained to line the streets of the Vatican.
After that, Francis was brought to Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, a nearby church, for a private funeral.
It occurs while the US keeps attempting to mediate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, met with Vladimir Putin for three hours on Friday, calling the discussions “constructive and very useful.”
The discussions helped “bring Russian and US stances closer together… not just on Ukraine but also on a range of other international issues,” according to Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov, who praised the discussions as “very constructive.”
However, the presidential couple appeared to put the past behind them for the benefit of the greater good at Francis’ funeral.
