Former President Donald Trump pursued peace in the Ukraine-Russia conflict while attending Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss potential diplomatic solutions amid mounting tensions with Russia.
At a Glance
- Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky met at St. Peter’s Basilica during Pope Francis’ funeral to discuss peace efforts
- Trump expressed concerns that Russian President Putin “doesn’t want to stop” the conflict
- The former president criticized The New York Times and reporter Peter Baker for what he called biased coverage of his diplomatic efforts
- Trump suggested considering alternative measures against Russia, including banking or secondary sanctions
- Polls indicate many voters believe Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine if Trump had remained in office
Diplomatic Meeting at the Vatican
Former President Donald Trump attended Pope Francis’ funeral in Rome where he seized the opportunity to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at St. Peter’s Basilica. The meeting marked their first face-to-face encounter since a previous disagreement between the two leaders.
During their discussion, Trump emphasized his commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, which has continued to escalate since its beginning during President Biden’s administration.
The Vatican meeting was described as productive, with both leaders expressing hope for lasting peace. However, Trump revealed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apparent unwillingness to end hostilities. “Doesn’t want to stop,” Trump noted about Putin, suggesting the Russian leader may be resistant to peace negotiations despite diplomatic efforts.
Trump’s Growing Concern Over Putin’s Intentions
During his diplomatic engagements in Rome, Trump voiced increasing concern about Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. The former president is reportedly considering recommending stronger measures against Moscow, including additional sanctions. This represents a potential shift in Trump’s approach as he faces mounting pressure from Republican lawmakers to take a firmer stance against Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
“This is Sleepy Joe Biden’s War, not mine. It was a loser from day one, and should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened if I were President at the time. I’m just trying to clean up the mess that was left to me by Obama and Biden, and what a mess it is”, said President Donald Trump.
Trump specifically mentioned the possibility of implementing “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” as potential measures to pressure Russia into ending the conflict. Several Republican senators and representatives have called for tougher actions against Russia, placing Trump in a position where he must balance his desire for peace negotiations with demands for a more assertive approach from members of his own party.
Criticism of Media Coverage
Following his diplomatic efforts in Rome, Trump took to Truth Social to express frustration with The New York Times and particularly with reporter Peter Baker over their coverage of his stance on Russia and Ukraine. Trump accused Baker of bias and criticized the newspaper for what he perceives as unfair reporting on his peace initiatives.
Trump noted that Baker’s article criticized his approach to Russia and Ukraine without mentioning his previous posts urging Putin to end the conflict. He further pointed to polls suggesting many voters believe the Russian invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred had he remained in office. The former president emphasized that the conflict began during Biden’s presidency, not during his term, and placed responsibility for the current situation on the Biden administration.
Ongoing Peace Efforts
Trump’s meeting with Zelensky at the Vatican represents his continued commitment to finding a diplomatic solution to the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Despite growing concerns about Putin’s willingness to negotiate, Trump remains engaged in pursuing peace talks. The Rome visit highlights the former president’s efforts to position himself as a potential diplomatic broker who could succeed where the current administration has struggled.
As tensions in Eastern Europe continue, Trump’s diplomatic outreach during Pope Francis’ funeral demonstrates his willingness to use international gatherings as opportunities to advance peace initiatives. Whether these efforts will yield concrete results remains to be seen, but they underscore Trump’s focus on ending what he describes as “the killing that is worse than anything since World War II” through direct engagement with the key parties involved in the conflict.
