Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took the chance whereas in Rome for Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural Mass to fulfill with high U.S. officers and European leaders on Sunday forward of a high-stakes cellphone name Monday between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to finish the battle in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy spoke with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Rome. Zelenskyy mentioned on social media he had underscored the necessity for “real diplomacy” and reaffirmed Ukraine’s dedication to a “full and unconditional ceasefire.”
“We have also touched upon the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, battlefield situation and upcoming prisoners exchange,” he wrote. “Pressure is needed against Russia until they are eager to stop the war.”
It was the primary face-to-face assembly between Vance and Zelenskyy because the contentious assembly on the Oval Workplace in February.
Ukrainian Presidency / Handout/Anadolu through Getty Photos
Mr. Trump mentioned on Saturday that he plans to talk with Putin on Monday about stopping the “bloodbath” in Ukraine. He’ll then converse with Zelenskyy and leaders of assorted NATO nations.
Rubio mentioned “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” in an interview that aired Sunday, he believes the one means that these talks will transfer ahead is that if Mr. Trump and Putin meet in particular person. He mentioned Mr. Trump has publicly provided to fulfill one-on-one.
“The mechanics of setting that kind of meeting up would require a little bit of work, so I can’t say that’s being planned as we speak in terms of picking a site and a date,” Rubio mentioned. “But the president wants to do it. He wants to do it as soon as feasible.”
When requested if Russia and Ukraine are searching for to speak to “buy time,” Rubio mentioned: “We’ll find out pretty soon.”
“On the one hand, we’re trying to achieve peace and end a very bloody, costly and destructive war. So, there’s some element of patience that is required. On the other hand, we don’t have time to waste. There are a lot of other things happening in the world that we also need to be paying attention to.”
Zelenskyy additionally met with Pope Leo after the Mass.
Vatican Media/Vatican Pool – Corbis/Getty Photos
“The authority and voice of the Holy See can play an important role in bringing this war to an end,” the Ukrainian president wrote on social media.
He thanked the Vatican for its readiness to turn out to be a platform for direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned he spoke to Zelenskyy and Rubio on the sidelines of the pope’s inauguration. Merz mentioned he had agreed with the leaders of France and Britain “that we will speak again with the American president in preparation for this conversation.”
Merz instructed reporters that “my firm impression is that both the Europeans and the Americans are determined to work together, but now also in a goal-oriented manner, to ensure that this terrible war ends soon.”
Putin spurned Zelenskyy’s provide to fulfill face-to-face in Turkey after he proposed direct negotiations — though not on the presidential degree — as a substitute for a 30-day ceasefire urged by Ukraine and its Western allies, together with the U.S.
The talks in Istanbul broke up after lower than two hours, though each side agreed on exchanging 1,000 prisoners of battle every, based on the heads of each delegations. Ukraine’s intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, mentioned on Ukrainian tv Saturday that the trade might occur as early as subsequent week.
Vance additionally met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Fee President Ursula Von der Leyen on Sunday. Later within the day, the vp met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as nicely, and the 2 leaders had been joined by U.Ok. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Overseas Secretary David Lammy.
Vance instructed reporters forward of the assembly with Meloni and Von der Leyen that Europe is an “important ally of the United States,” whereas noting that “we have some disagreements, as friends sometimes do, on issues like trade.” He added that he was hopeful the conversations can be “the beginning of some long-term trade negotiations and some long-term trade advantages between both Europe and the United States.”
Drone barrage in Ukraine
Zelenskyy’s conferences got here as Russia launched what Ukraine referred to as its largest drone barrage towards Ukraine because the begin of its full-scale invasion in 2022, after the primary direct talks between Moscow and Kyiv in years did not yield a ceasefire Friday.
Russia fired a complete of 273 exploding drones and decoys concentrating on Ukraine’s Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk areas, Ukraine’s air drive mentioned. Of these, 88 had been intercepted and 128 misplaced, doubtless being electronically jammed.
Ukrainian Emergency Service through AP
Yuriy Ihnat, head of the air drive’s communications division, instructed The Related Press the barrage was the largest drone assault because the begin of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Beforehand, Russia’s largest recognized single drone assault was on the eve of the battle’s third anniversary, when Russia pounded Ukraine with 267 drones.
Russia’s Protection Ministry mentioned its air defenses shot down seven Ukrainian drones in a single day and one other 18 Sunday morning.
