As the Russia-Ukraine war enters a volatile new phase, U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a critical one-on-one meeting in Rome on Saturday, on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ burial.
In a brief but pointed message posted to his official channels after the meeting, President Zelensky described the encounter as “good” and “very symbolic,” stressing the urgent need for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting the lives of our people,” Zelensky wrote.
“Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.”
Zelensky emphasized that the meeting had the potential to become historic, provided that both sides could achieve tangible joint outcomes.
Just days before the Rome meeting, Donald Trump had issued a stark public warning to Zelensky via his Truth Social platform. In a sharply worded post, Trump cautioned that if Ukraine continued to resist negotiating over disputed territories like Crimea, it could face three more years of brutal fighting — only to eventually lose the war to Russia.
Trump criticized Zelensky’s stance on Crimea, calling his refusal to recognize Russia’s 2014 annexation of the region “inflammatory” and harmful to the prospects of reaching a peace deal.
“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump wrote.
“He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”
This wasn’t the first time Trump had clashed with Zelensky. Earlier this year, the two leaders reportedly had a tense exchange at the White House during a heated meeting also involving Vice President JD Vance.
Tensions have been mounting behind the scenes as well. The United States government recently warned that it could pull out of ongoing peace talks if significant progress was not made in the coming days. Talks between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials faltered last week, leading U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to abruptly cancel a diplomatic trip to London.
While diplomacy stumbles, violence on the ground has only worsened.
On Saturday, President Zelensky announced that nine people were killed following a brutal Russian attack in Ukraine’s Dnipro region. According to his statement, a Russian FPV drone struck a civilian bus transporting workers from a mining and processing plant.
“It was an egregiously brutal attack – and an absolutely deliberate war crime,” Zelensky said.
“More than 40 people were injured, most of them women, and some received very severe wounds.”
Zelensky emphasized that the bus was a clear civilian target, condemning Russia for what he called a deliberate assault on innocent lives.
“My condolences go out to their families and loved ones,” he added.
As the Russia-Ukraine war stretches into yet another bloody year, the stakes surrounding peace negotiations have never been higher. Trump’s blunt warnings, Zelensky’s defiance, and continued bloodshed on the ground paint a grim picture for immediate resolution.
Whether the Rome meeting between Trump and Zelensky can truly become “historic,” as Zelensky hopes, will depend on what compromises, if any, both sides are willing to make.
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