Qualified as “emblematic”, the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday at the Vatican was greeted by the two parties as before entering the history books.
As for whether it will help seal a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia, the dice are not yet thrown.
Leaning towards each other, sitting on red armchairs according to images of the interview massively relayed on social networks, the American president and his Ukrainian counterpart spoke about fifteen minutes in the Saint-Pierre basilica, where the funeral of Pope Francis were celebrated.
It was the first time that the two men met on the head since the heated exchange in Washington on February 28, when Donald Trump and his vice-president, JD Vance, had literally drew up the Ukrainian president.
“Emblematic! “Said Mr. Trump’s national security advisor Mike Waltz on Sunday in the first detailed comments of the White House since the game.
“This setting, this scene, this meeting will remain in history books. President Trump is a president who talks about peace and diplomacy to the Vatican, “he said on the Fox News channel.
The Ukrainian President had himself spoke on the social networks of “a very symbolic meeting which could become historic if we reach common results”.
Whatever Mr. Zelensky could say during the Vatican meeting, it seemed to work.
A few hours later, the American president obviously hardened the tone vis-à-vis Vladimir Putin, issuing a doubt about the Russian president’s desire to “stop the war”.
Donald Trump exerts strong pressure to reach a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine as quickly as possible, and multiplies the signs of impatience with kyiv and Moscow.
“Not close enough”
The coming week will be “crucial” to determine whether Russia and Ukraine are ready to conclude an agreement, the American diplomacy, Marco Rubio said on Sunday.
He pointed out that the United States approached the moment of deciding if they want to “continue to [s’]involve in this company, or if it is time to [se] Focus on other questions that are just as important, even more important, in some cases. ”
“We are close [d’un accord]but not close enough, “he said in an interview with the NBC channel.
The US Secretary of State has again judged that there were “reasons to be optimistic, but also reasons to be realistic” on the chances of reaching an agreement, three years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“The only solution to this war is a negotiated regulation” where each party will have to make concessions, he repeated.
According to Mike Waltz, Donald Trump was determined on Saturday to speak “to Mr. Zelensky face to face and to discuss how [ils allaient] put an end to the greatest land war in Europe ”.
But “both parties must want it. He expressed his frustration with regard to both parties, but also his determination, “said the White House Advisor.
The United States has displayed its frustration in the face of Moscow’s refusal to engage in favor of a ceasefire, despite a series of meetings between Russian and American officials.
The American special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has notably had several tête-à-tête with Vladimir Putin in recent weeks. However, he was criticized in Ukraine for positions close to the Russians.
In the meantime, the call for peace has come from another person in the close circle of Mr. Trump: his wife, Melania, who celebrated his 55e Birthday Saturday, funeral day.
“I had the honor of attending the funeral of Pope Francis, on this day, where I prayed for the healing of those who suffer and for peace in the world,” revealed the first lady on Sunday on X, broadcasting a photo of her in black and white, eyes closed and the veil lifted.
