ROM: US President Donald Trump has warned that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “should be treated differently” after an emotional encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at Pope Francis’ funeral.

Trump, who spoke shortly after their conversations in the quiet of St. Peter’s Basilica, raised doubts as to whether Putin really wants peace, and accused him of continuing deadly missile attacks on civilians.

Zelensky said they had discussed a possible unconditional ceasefire with Russia and “hoped for results” from a “very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historical”.

This was the two leaders’ first meeting since a noisy White House in February, and after leaving Rome, Trump indicated a new approach to the Russian president.

“There was no reason why Putin shoots missiles in civilian areas, cities and cities in the last few days,” Trump said in a post about his truth’s social platform.

“It makes me think he might not want to stop the war, he just knocks on me and needs to be treated differently through ‘bank’ or ‘secondary sanctions?’ Too many people are dying !!!

The war threw a shadow over Francis’ funeral. Even when it took place, Russia claimed that its forces had “fully liberated” border the Kursk region.

However, Ukraine insisted that its army still fought in Kursk, Russian territory, which it hopes to use as a negotiating chip in any future peace talks.

‘Very productive discussion’

Trump and Zelensky sat face to face, leaning forward in deep discussion in a corner of the basilica as the pope’s wooden list was in front of the altar before the funeral, according to images released by the Ukrainian presidency.

“We discussed a lot on one,” Zelensky wrote at X.

“Hope for results about all we covered. Protecting our people’s lives. Full and unconditional truce. Reliable and lasting peace that prevents another war from breaking out,” he added.

A help to Zelensky described the meeting as “constructive” and the White House called it “a very productive discussion”.

The US president flew out of Rome immediately after the funeral mass, and there were no further conversations.

But the two leaders also curled up shortly inside the basilica with British Prime Minister Keir Stormmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron’s office described the exchanges as “positive” and he later met Zelensky one-on-one.

Britain said Stormer and Zelensky had “discussed positive progress in recent days”.

‘You can trust’ EU

Zelensky also met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Europe Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“Europe will always stand by Ukraine in the pursuit of peace,” von der Leyen told him in a post on X afterwards. “You can rely on our support at the negotiating table to achieve a fair and lasting peace.”

At St. Peter’s square rubbed Trump shoulders with dozens of world leaders, many eager to discuss the tariffs he has detached.

But it was the meeting with Zelensky that drew the most interest as the American leader is pushing for a peace deal.

Both sides had held the prospects of a meeting guard prior to the funeral where Trump said it was “possible”.

Tensions had been high since Trump and Vice President JD Vance, Zelensky, in the Oval Office on February 28, called him ungrateful for the billions of dollars of US military assistance given since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Guilt games

While Trump called on Putin to stop Russia’s attack, have recently blamed Zelensky for the war and the continued blood emit.

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in full scale in February 2022 and triggered a conflict that has left tens of thousands died.

Trump has pressed Zelensky to accept concessions such as recognizing that Crimea, like Moscow seized in 2014, remains in Russian hands under any deal to stop the conflict.

After arriving at Rome, Trump said there had been progress in conversations and the pressure for Russian and Ukrainian leaders to meet.

“They are very close to a deal, and the two sides now had to meet at very high levels to ‘end it’,” he released on his truth’s social platform.

“Most of the most important points are agreed,” he said.

Putin discussed the “opportunity” for direct conversations with Ukraine at a meeting with Witkoff on Friday, according to a Kremlic Help.

He told Witkoff Russia was ready to resume conversations with Ukraine “Without Prerequisites”, the Kremlin added on Saturday.

The Putin-Witkoff meeting came just after a top Russian general was killed in a car bomb attack outside Moscow.

Russia’s FSB Security Services announced on Saturday that a “Ukrainian Special Servicement” suspected of planting the bomb had been arrested.

Get meetings

The US president, accompanied by his wife Melania, made the first foreign trip in his second period.

It set him in the middle of a larger diplomatic collection with approx. 50 state heads, including 10 reigning monarchs and Britain’s Prince William.

The tour also came after he rattled European allies by introducing sweeping tariffs, although he has at least temporarily backed up from the most serious measures.

The US president shook his hands with von der Leyen. The two agree to meet, a spokesman for the EU union said.

Other leaders also swirled Trump.

A person he did not meet: his predecessor Joe Biden. Trump has repeatedly shown the bite, a devoted Catholic who participates independently with wife Jill and sits five rows behind his successor.

In the past, other presidents have taken their predecessors with them at the Air Force One to papal funerals.

Official Vatican photos showed that Trump and Melania stopped at the closed coffin in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Trump, in a dark blue suit and tie, and Melania, wearing a black veil, then took seats on the front row for the service.

Trump had said that all meetings would be quick and added, “Frankly, it’s a little disrespectful to have meetings when you’re at the funeral of the pope.”