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Zelensky: Conversations with Trump were the best at the Pope's funeral
Ukrainian President Zelensky described his conversation with Trump at the papal funeral as the best of their meetings so far. Topics included US sanctions and Ukraine's air defense.
Zelensky: Conversations with Trump were the best at the Pope's funeral
The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that his conversation with US President Donald Trump at the Vatican last month was the "best" yet, with the two leaders discussing US sanctions and Ukraine's air defenses.
Important conversations in the Vatican
The short one Meet during Pope Francis' funeral in April came at a crucial time for Ukraine amid concerns the U.S. could scale back support for Kiev and abandon peace talks.
Positive encounter after turbulent times
Both sides described the talks as positive, marking the first face-to-face meeting since then disastrous meeting in the Oval Office marked in February. Shortly afterwards, Trump questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin actually wanted peace, in another sign that the US president appeared to be losing patience with his Russian counterpart.
Substantial discussions and agreements
“I believe we had the best conversation ever with President Trump,” Zelensky said Friday in comments released Saturday by Ukraine’s presidential office. “It may have been the shortest, but it was the most substantial.”
Zelensky reported that the two discussed U.S. sanctions without going into detail, calling Trump's comments on the subject "very strong." He added that he emphasized his desire to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses and told Trump that he hoped to acquire American weapons. “I told him about the amount needed and he told me that they were working on it, but that these things are not free,” Zelensky continued.
Ceasefire and progress
He added that he and Trump agreed that a 30-day ceasefire was "the right first step" and that "we will move in that direction." Washington and Kyiv signed on Wednesday important agreement on minerals, which the two sides have been trying to achieve since Trump returned to the White House in January.
A turning point in relationships?
In his comments on Friday, Zelensky pointed to the Vatican meeting as a turning point in securing a deal and said he refuted Russian claims that Ukraine was unwilling to reach an agreement with the United States. “I am confident that after our meeting at the Vatican, President Trump began to see things a little differently,” he said optimistically.
The Ukrainian leader had previously praised the minerals agreement as a "truly equivalent agreement" and said it was the "first result" of the meeting. According to Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, the US and Ukraine will establish a joint investment fund, with the US potentially contributing new military aid to that fund.
War and initiatives for peace
Zelensky also criticized a three-day ceasefire called by Putin late last month, which was scheduled to last from midnight on May 8 to midnight on May 11. The dates of the proposed armistice coincide with celebrations of Russia's World War II Victory Day on May 9 and the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany's defeat.
Some international leaders, including China's Xi Jinping and Belarus' Aleksandr Lukashenko, are expected in Moscow on that date to mark Russia's Victory Day, which commemorates the more than 25 million Soviet soldiers and civilians who died in World War II. “Kiev will not play games to create a comfortable atmosphere that could lead Putin out of his isolation on May 9,” Zelensky emphasized.