The burial of Pope Francis in St Peter’s Basilica may have marked the end of an era but the interactions that took place between some world Leaders are likely to see the enthronement of peace as consistently demanded and preached by the late Pontiff.
At a period the global community is grappling with how to end the Russia- Ukraine war, the funeral brought US President,Donald Trump and his Ukrainian Counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky who met before the commencement of the ceremonies.
This was the first time Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump were meeting face-to-face since their February’s acrimonious Oval Office showdown.
The pair were pictured locked in deep discussion, minutes before the late pontiff’s funeral was due to start.
According to the BBC, the White House described the 15-minute meeting in St Peter’s Basilica as “very productive” while Zelensky called it “very symbolic” with the “potential to become historic”.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also posted an image of the meeting on X with the caption: “No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica.”
After leaving Rome later in the day, Trump in characteristic manner took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin, questioning his willingness to end the war after Moscow’s strikes on Kyiv earlier this week.
Posting on his social media account, Trump said there was “no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas”, adding: “It makes me think that maybe he [Putin] 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?'”
Meanwhile, the Kremlin said has stated that Putin had confirmed to Witkoff Russia’s readiness to enter into direct talks with Ukraine “without preconditions”.
Apart from the brief meeting between the two leaders, the media also captured UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron speaking with Trump and Zelensky in St Peter’s Basilica.
