**Ukrainian President Zelensky Claims Meeting with Trump Was Most Productive to Date**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump as the most productive conversation they have had so far. The two leaders met on April 26 at the Vatican, where they paid their respects to the late Pope Francis.
According to Interfax-Ukraine, Zelensky described the 10-minute meeting as “perhaps the shortest, but the most substantive.” This is a significant shift from their previous encounter in February, which was marked by tension and criticism from Trump and Vice President JD Vance towards Zelensky over what they saw as a lack of gratitude for US support.
**Zelensky Urges Trump to Reconsider Ceasefire Proposal**
During the Vatican meeting, Zelensky reportedly urged Trump to revisit his original proposal for an unconditional ceasefire as a starting point for peace talks. This move has been supported by Kyiv but rejected by Moscow. It’s unclear whether Trump will reconsider his stance on this issue.
**A More Constructive Conversation?**
Zelensky expressed his confidence that the meeting may have shifted Trump’s perspective, saying “I am confident that after our meeting in the Vatican, President Trump began to look at things a bit differently.” He also praised the one-on-one format of their conversation, stating that it created the right atmosphere for discussion.
This is a significant development, given the tension and criticism that characterized their previous encounter. It remains to be seen whether this newfound optimism will translate into concrete action on issues such as the ceasefire proposal and US-Ukraine relations.
**A Historic Outcome: The Signing of the Minerals Deal**
In related news, Zelensky has previously stated that the signing of a long-awaited U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal was the first concrete result of his recent meeting with Trump in the Vatican. This outcome is being hailed as “historic” and a testament to the productive nature of their conversation.
As always, it’s essential to remain cautious when interpreting the nuances of diplomatic conversations. However, on the surface, Zelensky’s claims suggest a more constructive and optimistic tone in US-Ukraine relations.
