President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met on April 26, 2025, at the Vatican, marking their first encounter since a contentious meeting in February. The meeting occurred on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral.
Zelensky described the meeting as "good" and expressed hopes for positive outcomes in areas such as protecting Ukrainian lives and achieving a ceasefire. He emphasized the importance of a lasting peace to prevent future conflicts. A White House spokesperson confirmed the meeting was productive, lasting approximately 15 minutes.
Trump hinted at potential new sanctions against Russia, questioning President Putin's commitment to peace following recent attacks on Kyiv. He suggested that Russia might require stronger measures, such as banking or secondary sanctions. Trump's proposed peace plan involves a ceasefire, potential U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory, and de facto recognition of Russian-controlled territories, excluding the Kharkiv region. The plan also suggests Ukraine remain outside of NATO but potentially join the EU, lifting sanctions on Russia, and transferring control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant to the US.
Ukraine and its European allies have proposed a counteroffer, advocating for postponing territorial discussions until a ceasefire is established and refusing to recognize Russian control over any Ukrainian territory. This counteroffer also calls for delaying the lifting of sanctions, increased security guarantees for Ukraine, and compensation from Russia for war damages. The issue of Crimea remains a significant point of contention, with Zelensky rejecting formalizing Russian control, prompting warnings from Trump about potential further losses for Ukraine.