Hopes For Peace In Ukraine At Funeral of Pope Francis

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, Worthy News

VATICAN CITY (Worthy News) – In a move that the late Pope Francis would have likely welcomed, U.S. President Donald J. Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, appeared to have overcome animosity by talking for about 15 minutes about the prospects for ending the nearly three-year war between Ukraine and Russia.

They met in the heart of Vatican City, where hundreds of thousands attended the funeral of Francis, who passed away this week at age 88.

“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered and protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire,” said Zelenskyy.

“No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica,” said Andrii Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Trump aides said the two leaders, leaning close to each other while seated in St Peter’s Basilica, had a very productive meeting.

“President Trump and President Zelenskyy met privately today and had a very productive discussion. More details about the meeting will follow,” White House communications director Steven Cheung said.

LASTING PEACE

“Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you, [President of the United States], POTUS,” he added on social media platform X.

Shortly before his death, Pope Francis had been urging all parties to find a peaceful solution, and he often urged prayers for those suffering in the war.

The apparent warming of relations between the U.S. and Ukrainian presidents came weeks after their unprecedented quarrel in the White House Oval Office on February 28, when Trump told Zelenskyy: “You’re playing cards. You’re gambling with the lives of millions of people. You’re gambling with World War III.”

However, fast forward, Trump appeared to lash out at Moscow instead following his brief conversation with Zelenskyy on Saturday. “There was no reason for [Russian President Vladimir] Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war; he’s just tapping me along, and he has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!” Trump stressed.

Scores of civilians have been killed and injured in Russian attacks in recent weeks, including children.

Under a reported plan proposed by the Trump administration, Ukraine would have to give up territories captured by Russia, including the Crimea Peninsula.

MORE REGIONS

Besides Crimea, which it took over in 2014, Moscow also announced the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in 2022, despite only occupying part of the claimed territories.

However, Zelenskyy so far said that giving up territories such as Crimea would be against his country’s constitution.

Some military analysts have suggested that an “armistice” could be a face-saving solution for both sides.

An armistice, like the one between North and South Korea, would mean the warring factions stop fighting while an attempt is made to negotiate a lasting peace.

That agreement would enable Russia to keep the roughly 20 percent of Ukrainian territory it currently occupies without Kyiv being forced to recognize the areas as part of Russia.

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