ROME, Italy –US PresidentDonald Trump has expressed concerns about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions in the ongoing war with Ukraine, following a brief but intense meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral in Rome.
The U.S. president took to Truth Social after leaving Rome, casting doubt on Putin’s willingness to end the conflict.
Trump’s comments came in the wake of recent Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, which he described as an indication that Putin may not be serious about peace.
“The Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities make 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?’” Trump wrote.
This remark reflects Trump’s ongoing frustration with the lack of progress toward peace, despite recent diplomatic efforts.
On the same day, Putin confirmed his readiness to engage in direct negotiations with Ukraine, following a meeting with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump and Zelensky’s encounter at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome marked their first meeting since a heated exchange in the White House in February 2025.
During their earlier confrontation, Trump criticized Zelensky, accusing him of being an obstacle to peace talks and telling him he “didn’t have the cards to play.”
The US president has repeatedly argued that Ukraine should accept territorial concessions to Russia, including the Crimean Peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Zelensky has firmly rejected this notion.
The 15-minute meeting between Trump and Zelensky, described by the White House as “very productive,” is seen as a potential turning point.
Zelensky, in a statement, called the meeting “very symbolic” and noted that it “has the potential to become historic” if the two leaders can achieve joint results.
The moment was captured in two poignant images, showing the two leaders seated in deep conversation in the Basilica before the funeral began.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha shared one of the images, calling it “a historic meeting” of two leaders working for peace.
Despite Trump’s earlier criticism, the White House took a positive stance on the meeting.
The Trump administration sees the dialogue as part of a broader effort to push for peace, with both the U.S. and Ukraine keen on finding a resolution to the ongoing war.
In his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer following the funeral, Zelensky reiterated his stance on a full and unconditional ceasefire.
Macron echoed this sentiment, saying that ending the war in Ukraine was a shared goal between himself and Trump.
In a post on X, Macron highlighted that Ukraine is ready for “an unconditional ceasefire,” a position that remains central to Ukraine’s negotiation strategy.
Very positive exchange today with President @ZelenskyyUa in Rome. Ending the war in Ukraine — this is the goal we share with President Trump.Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire. President Zelensky reaffirmed it to me today.
The discussions between Trump and Zelensky have been tense since the beginning of the war, with Trump urging Ukraine to accept significant territorial concessions.
However, the meeting in Rome, despite its brevity, signals a possible shift in diplomatic tone.
Trump’s comments about Putin’s missile strikes, along with his suggestion that the situation may require sanctions rather than negotiations, paint a more complex picture of the former president’s stance on the conflict.
His call for “secondary sanctions” implies a tougher approach towards Russia, yet he continues to advocate for a resolution that includes Ukrainian territorial compromises.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has remained steadfast in rejecting any concessions to Russia, focusing on the idea that a full ceasefire would open up the possibility for comprehensive peace talks.
“A full and unconditional ceasefire opens up the possibility to discuss everything,” Zelensky told the BBC on Friday, reiterating his position that Ukraine would not concede to Russian demands for territorial loss.
