President Trump and the president of Ukraine, Zenskyy Pope Francis’s funeral And “he had a very productive discussion,” said the White House on Saturday. The White House said more details of the meeting would be shared later.
On Saturday, Trump was among more than 50 heads of state and other dignitaries who attribute the funeral of Pope Francis, where he was personally presenting his respects to the Roman Catholic leader who barely disinterested with him in a variety of issues.
Trump arrived at the Vatican with his wife, the first lady Melania Trump. When Zenskyy arrived at the ceremony, the gathered crowd exploded in applause.
Nathan Howard / Reuters
Trump told journalists on Friday while flying to Rome that he went to the funeral “out of respect” to the Pontiff, who destroys after suffering a stroke at the age of 88.
Francis disagree with Mr. Trump’s approach on issues that include immigration, the treatment of migrants and climate change. The Argentine pontiff and the US president appeared at the beginning of their relationship on immigration. In 2016, Francis, alluding to Trump candidate and his campaign slogan of “Build The Wall”, called anyone who builds a wall to prevent migrants from “not Christians Noan.” Trump said the comment was “shameful.”
But after Francis’s death, the Republican president praised him as a “good man” who “worked hard” and “loved the world.” Mr. Trump also ordered that US flags be flown in the middle of the staff in honor of Francis.
Nathan Howard / Reuters
Trump had said on a couple of occasions before leaving Washington that he would have “many” or meetings with counterparts outside the funeral. But he seemed to get away from that while flying to Rome.
“Frankly, it is a bit disrespectful to have meetings when you are at the funeral of a Pope,” the president told journalists who accompany him aboard Air Force One. However, Mr. Trump said: “I will be talking to people. I will see many people.”
Mr. Trump did not elaborate when asked if he would simply meet with leaders in approval or holding more conversations in depth. He suggested that he could have meetings in Villa Tavena, the residence of the United States ambassador, where the night spent.
“It’s a bit difficult because we don’t have much time,” Trump said, pointing to his late arrival in Rome. It was scheduled to return to the United States immediately after funeral.
“I think we are going to try to see a couple of important people in what we are doing,” said Trump, who is trying to negotiate a El Alto el Fuego between Russia and Ukraine and negotiate trade agreements with multiple countries.
He published in Truth Social Shorts after arriving in Rome that Ukraine and Russia should for “very high level talks” at the end of Three War’s bloody war caused by Russia’s invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkoff, with Russian President Vladimir Putin on early Friday, and Trump said both parties were “very close to an agreement.”
Zenskyy arrived in Rome on Saturday to attend funeral, joining the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zenska. Putin did not attend.
Aaron Navarro and Haley Ott contributed to this report.