Former US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were among dozens of world leaders and heads of international organisations who gathered in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis.
President Zelenskyy’s attendance was uncertain until the final hours, with the Ukrainian leader indicating that military obligations could prevent his participation.
Officials within the Ukrainian president’s office reportedly awaited confirmation of a possible meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump during their time in Rome. The absence of such a meeting would be seen as a signal that Trump was unwilling to discuss Ukraine’s counter-proposals to the American peace plan, which had previously been presented during meetings of foreign ministers and national security advisers in Paris.
Recent media reports suggest that Ukraine, along with European countries, has offered Trump an alternative vision for ending the war initiated by Russia. These proposals also aim to outline the conditions that the United States should advocate for in any negotiations with the Kremlin.
Yesterday, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, held another meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and key members of his inner circle. Details of the conversation have so far been disclosed only by the Kremlin. Witkoff himself has not commented. Indications suggest that the discussions focused less on Russian-Ukrainian settlement specifics and more on other negotiations considered a priority by Trump, particularly those involving Iran.
Witkoff is also engaged in talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Oman, underscoring the American administration’s current focus on agreements concerning Iran’s nuclear fuel rather than timelines for ending the war in Ukraine. Trump has publicly stated there is no deadline for progress in the Russian-Ukrainian talks.
In Moscow, presidential aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that Witkoff had discussed the possibility of direct negotiations between representatives of Moscow and Kyiv. However, there was no clarity on whether Putin would agree to such a format or under what conditions such talks might take place.
The Ukrainian proposals currently circulating in the media are unlikely to be acceptable to the Kremlin. If Russia refuses them, as it has with previous initiatives, Trump could face another diplomatic setback. The Russian president has consistently rejected even the idea of a ceasefire, and there are no indications that his stance has softened.
One controversial topic under discussion involves the potential recognition of Crimea as part of Russia by the United States. Reports suggest that Trump’s administration has informally discussed this scenario with Ukrainian and European partners. However, such a move would face a significant legal barrier: a law passed by the US Congress during Trump’s first presidency prohibits the US government from recognising Crimea or any other Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia as Russian territory. Repealing this law would require a new act of Congress, an outcome highly unlikely under current political conditions.
Thus, even if the Trump administration were inclined to make such an offer to Russia, it would not be legally possible without legislative changes. This reality highlights the complexity of the current diplomatic efforts and casts doubt on any imminent breakthroughs.
The anticipated meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy in Rome is significant primarily in terms of maintaining contact between the two leaders. It is not expected to yield progress towards a resolution of the conflict. Realistically, there are currently no objective grounds for an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine in the coming weeks, months, or possibly even years. The length of the conflict will likely depend on Russia’s economic and demographic capacity to sustain its military ambitions.
For Ukraine and its allies, the critical issue remains continued US support, particularly in supplying military assistance or facilitating European purchases of American arms. Sustained support would be crucial for weakening Russia’s war potential and demonstrating to the Kremlin that a prolonged conflict will not result in the disappearance of Ukraine as a sovereign state.
In the broader context, the war’s continuation threatens not only Ukraine’s sovereignty but also the future stability of other former Soviet republics. President Putin and his circle view the restoration of Russia’s influence within the borders of the former Soviet Union as a long-term objective.
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