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According to Ukrainian officials, the meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions moving forward. Despite a rocky history, Saturday’s engagement hinted at a possible thaw in relations.
Tensions between the two leaders had previously exploded during a February White House meeting, which ended abruptly when Zelensky warned that abandoning Ukraine could jeopardize U.S. national security. Trump sharply rebuked the comments and immediately shut down further meetings, saying he had no plans for another summit “for the foreseeable future.”
Adding to the friction, Zelensky has repeatedly wavered on finalizing an economic deal that would grant the United States rights over a significant portion of Ukraine’s mineral sector. Trump officials expressed frustration after Zelensky agreed to the deal four separate times — only to back out each time, despite America’s more than $100 billion investment in Ukrainian aid.
Yet Saturday’s talks suggest a potential breakthrough. President Trump, ahead of his arrival in Rome, hinted that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were close to bearing fruit.
“Just landed in Rome. A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social Friday night. “Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war!”
Still, Trump remained firm in pressing Ukraine to honor its economic commitments. In a pointed follow-up post, he stated, “Ukraine, headed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has not signed the final papers on the very important Rare Earths Deal with the United States. It is at least three weeks late. Hopefully, it will be signed IMMEDIATELY.”
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Relations were further strained after Zelensky made provocative comments ahead of planned peace talks in London, asserting that Ukraine would never recognize Russia’s control over Crimea — a territory many historians recognize as historically Russian. Trump’s team saw the remarks as a self-inflicted wound to the peace process.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff subsequently pulled out of the London talks in protest. Without key American leadership at the table, the negotiations collapsed.
“Very harmful,” Trump said of Zelensky’s statements, warning that such rhetoric would only “prolong the ‘killing field.’”
While Saturday’s brief meeting offered a glimmer of hope, it remains to be seen whether Zelensky is truly ready to make lasting peace — or if more broken promises lie ahead.
