Overview

• Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a 15-minute private meeting in St. Peter’s Basilica, focusing on a comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire as a step toward peace in Ukraine.
• Following the meeting, Trump publicly questioned Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war, hinting at the need for a tougher approach if peace talks falter.
• The Kremlin announced its readiness to resume negotiations without preconditions, but skepticism persists among European leaders and Ukrainian officials about Russia’s sincerity.
• Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed doubts that these developments signal genuine progress toward a lasting resolution.
• The meeting highlighted ongoing tensions in U.S. policy, as Trump’s fluctuating stance toward Putin underscores uncertainty in American support for Ukraine.