Zelenskyy meets with Rubio, Vance in Rome

[ad_1] Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy in Rome Sunday for ongoing peace talks because the battle between Russia and Ukraine continues .

"Throughout our talks we mentioned negotiations in Istanbul to the place the Russians despatched a low-level delegation of non-decision-makers. I reaffirmed that Ukraine is able to be engaged in actual diplomacy and underscored the significance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as quickly as potential," Zelenskyy shared on X of the assembly.

"We have now additionally touched upon the necessity for sanctions in opposition to Russia, bilateral commerce, protection cooperation, battlefield state of affairs and upcoming prisoners alternate. Strain is required in opposition to Russia till they're desperate to cease the battle. And, in fact, we talked about our joint steps to realize a simply and sturdy peace," he continued.

ZELENSKYY SPEAKS WITH TRUMP, ALLIES AFTER RUSSIA PEACE TALKS BROKER NO CEASEFIRE

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1200/675/rome3.png?ve=1&tl=1" alt="VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and United States Vice President JD Vance (R) wait for the arrival of Pope Leo XIV for a Mass celebrating the inauguration of his pontificate in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, on May 18, 2025. (Photo by Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu via Getty Images)" width="1200" height="675"/> VATICAN CITY, VATICAN, MAY 18: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and United States Vice President JD Vance (R) look ahead to the arrival of Pope Leo XIV for a Mass celebrating the inauguration of his preach in St. Peter's Sq. on the Vatican, on Might 18, 2025. (Picture by Riccardo De Luca/Anadolu through Getty Photographs)

World leaders converged in Rome this weekend for Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass on the Vatican on Sunday, with Vance main the U.S. delegation. Zelenskyy additionally attended the mass.

The assembly comes after Russian and Ukrainian officers held their first direct peace talks in years final week in Istanbul. The 2 sides, nevertheless, failed to achieve a ceasefire settlement for a battle that has raged since February of 2022.

Hours after the assembly, a Russian drone strike hit a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine on Saturday.

TRUMP SAYS PUTIN IS ‘TIRED’ OF RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR

Russia and Ukraine did comply with a big prisoner swap through the assembly final week, regardless of not reaching a ceasefire.

President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday, throughout his four-day tour of the Center East, that he needs to satisfy with Russian President Vladimir Putin to debate the battle "as quickly as we are able to set it up."

<img src="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/05/1200/675/rome2.png?ve=1&tl=1" alt="Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) is greeted by US Vice President JD Vance (R) and Seond Lady Usha Vance prior to a Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Pontificate of Pope Leo XIV, in St Peter's square in The Vatican on May 18, 2025. (Photo by Jacquelyn Martin / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)" width="1200" height="675"/> Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) is greeted by US Vice President JD Vance (R) and Seond Woman Usha Vance previous to a Holy Mass for the Starting of the Preach of Pope Leo XIV, in St Peter's sq. in The Vatican on Might 18, 2025. (Picture by Jacquelyn Martin / POOL / AFP) (Picture by JACQUELYN MARTIN/POOL/AFP through Getty Photographs)

Trump added in a Reality Social publish on Saturday that he'll converse to Putin by cellphone on Monday, which shall be adopted by one other name to Zelenskyy and NATO leaders because the U.S. continues to work to dealer a peace deal between the 2 nations as negotiations drag.

TRUMP, AFTER SKIPPING RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE TALKS, WANTS TO MEET PUTIN ‘AS SOON AS WE CAN SET IT UP’

"I WILL BE SPEAKING, BY TELEPHONE, TO PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN OF RUSSIA ON MONDAY, AT 10:00 A.M. THE SUBJECTS OF THE CALL WILL BE, STOPPING THE ‘BLOODBATH’ THAT IS KILLING, ON AVERAGE, MORE THAN 5000 RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN SOLDIERS A WEEK," Trump posted on his Truth Social Saturday.

ROME, ITALY - MAY 18: From left, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen pose previous to a gathering on the Chigi Palace on Might 18, 2025 in Rome, Italy. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is in Rome to attend the inauguration mass of Pope Leo XIV on the Vatican. (Picture by Jacquelyn Martin - Pool/Getty Photographs) (Getty Photographs)

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"HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A PRODUCTIVE DAY, A CEASEFIRE WILL TAKE PLACE, AND THIS VERY VIOLENT WAR, A WAR THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED, WILL END," Trump mentioned. "GOD BLESS US ALL!!!"