“It may have been the shortest, but it was the most meaningful.” With these words the president of Ukraine Volodimir Zelenski described the meeting he had with his American counterpart Donald Trump In the Vatican, on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis.
“I think we had the best conversation with President Donald Trump from all those in the past,” Volodimir Zelenski said in an interview.
At the same time, the Ukrainian president said they were discussing US sanctions, without expanding, while describing the comments of the US president “very strong”. Added that he reiterated his desire to reinforce the Ukraine air defense And he told Trump that he hopes to have the opportunity to buy American weapons.
“I told him about the quantity and he told me they would see it, that these things are not free,” Zelenski said.
Added that he and Trump agreed that A 30 -day truce ‘is the right first step’ And that “we will move in that direction”.
“After the meeting, Trump began to see things a little differently”
It is noted that last Wednesday (30.04.25), Washington and Kiev signed A critical agreement on minerals – An agreement that both sides were trying to forge since Trump returned to the White House in January.
In his comments on Friday, Zelenski pointed to the meeting in the Vatican as the turning point to secure the agreement, Adding that he managed to deny Russian allegations that Ukraine was not willing to reach an agreement with the US.
“I am sure that after our meeting in the Vatican, Trump began to see things a little differently“, He said.
What was said about anti -aircraft defense
For the security element in the deal, Zelenski emphasized the importance of the most effective anti -aircraft defense, which remains one of Kiev’s main demands to his allies throughout the war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.
“And so we are ready for anti -aircraft systems to be a contribution (in the fund). I told him about the number (of the systems we need) – he told me they are working on it, (that) these things are not free. “