Report: Zelensky Believes Vatican Meeting Pushed Trump To Take Tougher Approach with Putin

by | Apr 30, 2025

Report: Zelensky Believes Vatican Meeting Pushed Trump To Take Tougher Approach with Putin

by | Apr 30, 2025

trump zelensky

Trump meets with his Ukrainian counterpart at the Vatican, April 26, 2025. (Credit: Ukraine Foreign Ministry)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky believes his Vatican meeting with President Donald Trump successfully nudged the American leader to take a more aggressive stance towards Russia. Following the meeting with Zelensky, Trump suggested he might add more sanctions on Moscow.

According to two sources familiar with the 15-minute conversation on Saturday, as cited by Axios, Zelensky told Trump that he would have to put more pressure on Putin to get a deal, and the US president responded positively to that position.

After the meeting, Trump posted on Truth Social that “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days.” He added, “It makes 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?’ Too many people are dying!!!”

The Telegraph on Sunday reported that the meeting during Pope Francis’ funeral occurred at the behest of Trump. The Axios article, published on Wednesday, noted that Zelensky’s advisers were initially hesitant to take the meeting after the last conversation between the two leaders ended in an infamous Oval Office argument in February.

The sources speaking with Axios said Saturday’s discussion went better, as Vice President JD Vance and envoy Steve Witkoff were not present.

As Trump appears to be taking a tougher stance towards Russia, he seems ready to sign a mineral agreement with Kiev. The Washington Post says it reviewed the latest draft of the deal, which affirms a “long-term strategic alignment” between the two countries and US “support for Ukraine’s security, prosperity, reconstruction, and integration into global economic frameworks.”

Some outlets are reporting that deal could be signed as early as Wednesday; however, officials familiar with the negotiations said Ukraine was pushing for last-minute changes to the agreement, which could prompt the Americans to walk away.

Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone is news editor of the Libertarian Institute, opinion editor of Antiwar.com and co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Will Porter and Connor Freeman.

View all posts

Our Books

Shop books published by the Libertarian Institute.

libetarian institute longsleeve shirt

Our Books

cb0cb1ef 3fcb 417d 80d8 4eef7bbd8290

Recent Articles

Recent

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This