Zelensky says meeting with Trump could be ‘historic’

Donald Trump and Volodomyr Zelensky held a brief one-on-one meeting at the Vatican right before attending Pope Francis’ funeral. The Ukrainian president said the chat could prove ‘historic.’ And while the US president insists a peace deal is very close, his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, says his armed forces are ready to succeed in Ukraine. 

Although casting doubt on Putin’s willingness to end the war via a post on Truth Social after leaving the Vatican, Trump said he believes Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal. Most of the major important points are agreed to.”

However, he first blamed former President Joe Biden for the war and former President Barack Obama for Russia’s Crimea annexation. “This is Sleepy Joe Biden’s War, not mine,” he said. “It was a loser from day one, and should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened if I were President at the time.” He went on to say: “I’m just trying to clean up the mess that was left to me by Obama and Biden, and what a mess it is.”

“With all of that being said, there was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days,” Trump added. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!”

Trump might change his mind about Putin

Trump’s words could suggest a shift in his stance toward Putin, whom he previously praised, while condemning Zelensky and even calling him a dictator.

The meeting between the US and Ukrainian leaders was their first face-to-face encounter since February at the Oval Office when things turned sour.

Zelenskyy expressed satisfaction with the meeting with Trump, during which they discussed the defense of the Ukrainian people, an unconditional ceasefire, and lasting peace that could bring an end to the war.

Zelenskyy’s spokesman told news reporters in Rome that the meeting with Trump had lasted about 15 minutes, but that both leaders had agreed to meet again later on Saturday. However, the meeting did not take place in Rome because of conflicting schedules.

‘Putin lies’ when speaking to Americans

French President Emmanuel Macron recently wrote on X: “When he speaks to the Americans, President Putin says: I want peace. Yet he continues to bomb Ukraine and kill civilians. He must stop lying and give a clear answer: does he agree to a ceasefire?”

This Saturday, Macron on X said he had a “very positive exchange with” Zelensky. He also said, “Ukraine is ready for an unconditional ceasefire. President Zelensky reiterated this to me. Now it is up to Putin to prove he truly wants peace.”

Russia violates Polish airspace again

Also, this Saturday, the Polish armed forces released an official statement on X, accusing Russia of violating its airspace for a second time this year.

“The nature of the incident indicates that Russia is testing the readiness of our air defense systems,” said the military statement. “The helicopter’s flight was observed over the Baltic Sea.” On February 11th of this year, a Russian Su-24MR reconnaissance aircraft violated Polish airspace over the eastern part of the Gulf of Gdańsk.

Putin says ‘neo-Nazi’ regime defeat is closer

In Moscow, Putin claimed his military had finally expelled Ukrainian forces from Kursk, the last Russian village they had been holding, according to Russia’s state-owned agency TASS. It also confirmed that North Korean soldiers had fought in Kursk alongside Russian forces.

The following words by Putin do not appear to be from someone who aspires to a peace deal with Ukraine: “The enemy’s complete rout in the borderline Kursk Region creates conditions for further successful operations by our troops in other major frontline areas and brings the defeat of the neo-Nazi regime closer.”

Kyiv denied that its forces had been expelled from Kursk and stated that they were still operating in Belgorod, another Russian region bordering Ukraine, Reuters reported.