In a solemn atmosphere marked by the funeral of Pope Francis, held today in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome, a high-level meeting took place between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. This was reported to the media by the Ukrainian presidential spokesman, noting that the focus of the talks was on the peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
Before the funeral ceremony, Zelensky also held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Labor leader Keir Starmer. Diplomatic sources also said that a new meeting was agreed upon to continue the talks.
During the improvised summit, a counterproposal emerged from Ukraine to the recent White House initiative to end the conflict. According to a document viewed by the New York Times, Kyiv is proposing a plan that, while departing in part from the American demands, leaves open glimmers of compromise on obstacles that up to the present have been deemed to be insurmountable. Among the main points: no limitations on the Ukrainian armed forces, the deployment of a “European security contingent” with U.S. support, and the use of frozen Russian assets to finance post-conflict reconstruction.
On the relevance of transatlantic dialogue, European Council President Antonio Costa, who was present in the capital for the Pontiff’s funeral, also spoke. “The relationship between Europe and the United States is fundamental for global stability. We are always open to dialogue with President Trump, including here in Rome,” he stated on the program, Caffè Europa on Rai Radio1.
