Trump met Ukraine President Volodimir Zellinsky before the funeral of Pope Francis, says the White House

President Trump and Ukraine President Zelinski met separately Funeral of Pope Francis “A very fruitful discussion was taking place,” the White House said on Saturday.

Ukraine spokesman described the meeting as “building” and said that the two leaders were working on another arrangement. The presidential press service in Ukraine released pictures of the meeting, as well as a picture of a meeting between Mr. Trump and Zellinski, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Kiir Station.

Mr. Trump is trying to mediate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Russia launched a large -scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, after the forces first sent to eastern Ukraine in 2014.

On Saturday, Mr. Trump was among more than 50 heads of state and other personalities who attended the funeral of Pope Francis, as he personally respected him personally for the Roman Catholic leader who was clearly un noted in a variety of issues.

He also met briefly for the British Prince William, according to the BBC News Network CBS.

Trump arrived at the Vatican with his wife, First Lady Melania Trump. When Zelenskyy arrived at the ceremony, The crowd gathered in applause erupted.

Mr. Trump told the correspondents on Friday as he flies to Rome that he would go to the funeral “respect” for the Pope, who died on Monday after suffering a stroke at the age of 88.

Francis has not sharply agreed to Mr. Trump’s approach to issues including migration, immigrant treatment and climate change. The Argentine champion and the American president appeared early in their relationship to immigration. In 2016, Francis, who hinted at Trump’s candidate at the time and his slogan in his campaign “Building the Wall”, called on anyone who builds a wall to keep the immigrants “not Christian.” Mr. Trump said the comment was “shameful”.

But after the death of Francis, the Republican President praised him as a “good man” “worked hard” and “I love the world”. Mr. Trump also directed that American flags be transferred to half of the employees in honor of Francis.

Mr. Trump said on occasions before leaving Washington that he would be “a lot” of meetings with their counterparts on the sidelines of the funeral. But he seemed to back down from that as he was flying to Rome.

“Frankly, it is somewhat respectful that holding meetings when they are at the funeral of the Pope,” the president told reporters who accompany him on the Air Force. However, Mr. Trump said: “I will talk to people. I will see many people.”

Mr. Trump did not explain when asked whether he would meet leaders to pass or hold more in -depth conversations. He suggested that he might have meetings in the Villa of Tafirna, the residence of the American ambassador, where he spent the night.

“It is a little difficult because we do not have a lot of time,” said Mr. Trump, noting his late arrival in Rome. He was scheduled to return to the United States immediately after the funeral.

“I think we will try to see two important people in what we are doing,” said Mr. Trump, who is trying to mediate the ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and negotiate trade agreements with multiple countries.

It was actually published socially after its arrival in Rome, where Ukraine and Russia must meet in “highly -level talks” to end the blood war for three years raised by Russia’s invasion. His envoy, Steve Witkeov, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Friday, and Trump said that both sides are “very close to the deal.”

Zelenskyy arrived in Rome on Saturday to attend the funeral, and joined the first lady, Olina Zelinska, Ukraine. Putin did not attend.

Aaron Navarro and

Haley there

He contributed to this report.