Trump, Zelenskyy meet in Rome

Ukrainian Presidential Press Service —HANDOUT VIA REUTERS

VATICAN CITY—US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a “very productive” meeting on Saturday in Rome, a White House official said, as both leaders attended the funeral of Pope Francis.

A spokesperson for Zelenskyy’s office said the two leaders, in an encounter in St. Peter’s Basilica that lasted about 15 minutes, agreed to have a second meeting later on Saturday, and that their teams were working on arrangements for that.

The meeting at the Vatican, their first since an angry encounter in the Oval Office in Washington in February, comes at a critical time in negotiations aimed at bringing an end to fighting between Ukraine and Russia.

“President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very productive discussion. More details about the meeting will follow,” said Steven Cheung, White House communications director.

Reuters

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