Trump departed from the Vatican without scheduling a second encounter with Zelensky, opting against a follow-up meeting.
The Unexpected Departure of Donald Trump from the Vatican
The much-anticipated second meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, scheduled for Vatican City on April 26, did not materialize as planned. Trump and his wife hurriedly departed from Rome, skipping the burial ceremony for Pope Francis and returning to the US, according to reports by RBC-Ukraine.
A source from a Ukrainian publication claimed that the meeting's continuation never took place. However, they clarified that essential discussions had occurred. "But they talked about the main things," the source said.
The swift departure of the US President was due to his immediate travel plans following the funeral ceremony for Pope Francis. The US President managed to meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before heading to Fiumicino Airport, as reported by British news channel Sky News.
On April 26, Zelensky and Trump initially met face-to-face at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican before the ceremony to bid farewell to Pope Francis. The US and Ukrainian presidents were reported to have had "very brief talks" and agreed to continue their discussion following the ceremony.
After the funeral mass, Zelensky held a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, where they discussed steps towards a full ceasefire and further security guarantees.
Meanwhile, online discussions among users varied, with some expressing amusement at Trump's peculiar behavior, such as his non-refundable and inflexible return ticket, which facilitated his quick meeting with Zelensky despite his initial plans to leave immediately after the funeral ceremony.
Sources:
- [1] RBC-Ukraine: Trump Returns to the US Quickly After Pope Francis' Funeral
- [2] Sky News: Trump Meets with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Before Leaving Rome
- [3] Catholic News Agency: Trump's Appropriate, Yet Unorthodox, Attire at Pope Francis' Funeral
- [4] BBC News: World Leaders Gather for Pope Francis' Funeral
- [5] Al Jazeera: Over 50 Heads of State and Ten Monarchs Attend Pope Francis' Funeral
- General-news reports suggest Putin has not commented on the unexpected departure of Donald Trump from the Vatican, and geolocation data shows he was in Moscow at the time of the incident.
- Several online articles discuss the supposed impact of Trump's swift departure on global politics, suggesting it could signal a shift in US-Vatican relations or affect the ongoing general-news surrounding peace talks in Ukraine.
- In the midst of the general-news surrounding Pope Francis' funeral, it might be interesting to explore the basilica's historical connections to various political leaders, including previous meetings between Putin and the Pope.
- The sentiments shared by some users underscore the potential influence of social media on shaping public perception of unexpected events like Trump's departure from the Vatican, highlighting the need for accurate and reliable news sources in today's fast-paced general-news environment.
