Trump raises Putin doubts after meeting Zelenskyy at Pope's funeral

US and Ukrainian presidents hold talks in St Peter's Basilica

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy at St Peter's Basilica before the funeral of Pope Francis. EPA

US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on whether Russian leader Vladimir Putin wants a peace deal, shortly after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the hush of St Peter's Basilica before Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday.

Mr Zelenskyy said they had discussed a possible unconditional ceasefire with Russia and were “hoping for results” from a “very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic”.

It was the two leaders' first meeting since an acrimonious White House clash in February, and after leaving Rome, Mr Trump indicated another approach to the Russian president.

“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns over the last few days,” Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“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.”

As Pope Francis's funeral was taking place, Russia claimed its forces had “fully liberated” the border Kursk region from a Ukrainian incursion.

Ukraine insisted, however, that its army was still fighting in Kursk, Russian territory, which it hopes to use as a bargaining chip in any peace talks.

Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy sat face-to-face in a corner of the basilica, as the pope's wooden coffin lay in front of the altar before the funeral, according to images released by the Ukrainian presidency.

“We discussed a lot one-on-one,” Mr Zelenskyy wrote on X.

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  An overview of the funeral of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on Saturday, April 26. AP

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  Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re delivers his homily as he presides over Pope Francis's funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square. AFP

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  The coffin of Pope Francis is placed on the ground in St Peter's Square for his funeral. AP

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  In St Peter’s Square, pallbearers carry the coffin of Pope Francis Getty Images

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  Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, pictured with world leaders and dignitaries. Getty Images

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  US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania Trump, arrive for Pope Francis's funeral at St Peter's Square, in the Vatican. AFP

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  French President Emmanuel Macron, centre, joins other world leaders and dignitaries at the funeral of Pope Francis. AP

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  The UK's Prince William, centre, at St Peter's Square, in the Vatican. AFP

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  Members of the clergy prepare for Pope Francis's funeral, in the courtyard of St Peter's Basilica. EPA

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  Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrives for the funeral. Getty Images

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  UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria Starmer, arrive for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis in St Peter's Square. Reuters

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  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun is among the leaders from the Middle East who are attending the funeral in the Vatican. Reuters

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  A picture of Pope Francis is displayed before the funeral Mass for the pontiff in St Peter's Square, Vatican City. EPA

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  Members of the clergy prepare for the funeral Mass of Pope Francis. Reuters

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  Police stand guard as people queue near the Vatican ahead of Pope Francis's funeral. World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are set to attend the event. AFP

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  Nuns gather near the Vatican. Tens of thousands of Catholics have travelled to Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis. AFP

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  French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, paying their respects to Pope Francis, whose body has been lying in state inside St Peter's Basilica, in Vatican City. EPA

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  US President Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, arrive at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International airport. AP

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  The rite of sealing is performed on the coffin of Pope Francis, before his funeral at the Vatican. EPA

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  Cardinal Camerlengo Kevin Joseph Farrell signs the official deed of Pope Francis before closing his coffin in St Peter's Basilica. AP

“Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out,” he added.

An aide to Mr Zelenskyy described the meeting as “constructive” and the White House called it “a very productive discussion”.

The US President flew out of Rome immediately after the funeral mass and there were no further talks.

But the two leaders also briefly huddled inside the basilica with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Mr Macron's office described the exchanges as “positive” and he later met Mr Zelenskyy one-on-one.

Britain said Mr Starmer and Mr Zelenskyy had “discussed positive progress made in recent days”.

Mr Zelenskyy also met Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Europe will always stand by Ukraine in the pursuit of peace,” Ms von der Leyen told him in a post on X afterwards. “You can count on our support at the negotiating table to achieve a just and lasting peace.”

In St Peter's Square, Mr Trump rubbed shoulders with dozens of world leaders, many keen to discuss the tariffs he has unleashed.

But the meeting with Mr Zelenskyy drew the most interest as the US leader pushed for a peace deal.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, with French President Emmanuel Macron, left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, centre left, and US President Donald Trump at St Peter's Basilica. Getty

Both sides had kept the prospects of a meeting vague ahead of the funeral, with Mr Trump saying only it was “possible”.

Tensions had been high since Mr Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Mr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on February 28, calling him ungrateful for the billions of dollars of US military assistance given since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Mr Trump, while calling on Mr Putin to stop Russia's attacks, has recently blamed Mr Zelenskyy for the war and the continuing bloodshed.

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict has left tens of thousands dead.

Mr Trump has pushed Mr Zelenskyy to accept concessions such as acknowledging that Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014, will remain in Russian hands under any deal to stop the conflict.

After arriving in Rome, Mr Trump said there had been progress in talks and pushed for the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to meet.

“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off',” he posted on his Truth Social platform.

“Most of the major points are agreed to,” he said.

Mr Putin on Friday discussed the “possibility” of direct talks with Ukraine in a meeting with Washington's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, according to a Kremlin aide.

He told Mr Witkoff Russia was ready to resume talks with Ukraine “without preconditions”, the Kremlin added on Saturday.

The Putin-Witkoff meeting came after a senior Russian general was killed in a car-bomb attack outside Moscow.

Russia's FSB security services announced on Saturday that a “Ukrainian special services agent” suspected of having planted the bomb had been arrested.

Mr Trump, accompanied by his wife Melania, was making the first foreign trip of his second term.

It put him centre stage of a major diplomatic gathering with some 50 heads of state, including 10 monarchs, and Britain's Prince William.

The trip also came after he rattled European allies by imposing sweeping tariffs, although he at least temporarily has backed down from the most severe measures.

The US President shook hands with Ms von der Leyen. The two have agreed to meet, a European Union representative said.

Other leaders also swarmed around Mr Trump.

Mr Trump had said any meetings would be quick and added: “Frankly it's a little disrespectful to have meetings when you're at the funeral of the pope.”