Zelensky and Trump: A Short Meeting in the Vatican Brought More Benefits Than Long Negotiations in the Oval Office
A total of 15 minutes of one-on-one conversation between the Presidents of Ukraine and the United States, Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump, in the Vatican could have significantly influenced their relations and diplomatic dialogue. According to the Ukrainian leader, this brief meeting turned out to be more productive and effective than many hours of negotiations in large formats, involving a wide circle of people, including in the Oval Office of the White House. As reported by "European Pravda," citing Zelensky’s interview with ABC News, the details and content of the negotiations remain outside official information. However, the President of Ukraine happily noted that this short and direct encounter helped strengthen their relationship and gave a push for further cooperation. Commenting on his participation in the meeting at the Vatican on April 26, which took place in the context of the funeral of Pope Francis and gathered dozens of world leaders on one platform, Zelensky admitted that he and his team hope for ongoing dialogue with Trump and seek to establish personal contacts to improve communication. The Ukrainian President pointed out that he misses more direct meetings with his American counterpart, as they allow for better understanding and can bolster collaboration. "I would like to have more regular communication with President Trump. It is important for our country," Zelensky confessed. "Of course, 15 minutes at the Vatican is very little, but it was enough to achieve much more than in long discussions in a large group. This short personal meeting turned out to be much more useful and fruitful." The background to this event was the summit in the Vatican, held on April 26 during the funeral of Pope Francis. It was during this time that many world leaders gathered, including Zelensky. According to sources within the Ukrainian government, there are plans to organize an additional meeting between the Ukrainian President and Donald Trump in the near future. Such a negotiation opportunity might also arise during the G7 summit scheduled for June 15–17. Thus, the short but meaningful meeting in the Vatican demonstrated how important personal conversations are for strengthening diplomatic contacts. Zelensky openly states that he intends to continue striving for deeper and more regular dialogues with the American leadership, as such contacts are capable of bringing real results in international policy and in Ukraine’s interests.