Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and former U.S. President Donald Trump crossed paths on Saturday in Rome during the funeral service for Pope Francis. This encounter comes just weeks after a tense exchange between the two leaders in the Oval Office, and amid reports from the White House suggesting that Kyiv and Moscow were “very close to a deal,” according to a statement from the Ukrainian presidency.
“The meeting took place and is already over,” confirmed Sergiy Nykyforov, Zelensky’s spokesperson, addressing journalists after the event. While details of the conversation remain sparse, it’s clear that diplomacy took a back seat to solemn ceremony.
According to The New York Post, the Vatican, ever the master of neutrality, avoided potential fireworks by seating delegations in strict French alphabetical order — ensuring that Trump and Zelensky were not seated close together. In a setting meant for mourning, it seems a little strategic seating saved everyone from a sequel to February’s Oval Office clash.
