Vance, Zelensky shake hands at Vatican after Oval Office spat
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Ukrainian President Zelensky met US V-P Vance for the first time since their White House spat, at the Vatican on May 18.
PHOTO: AFP
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VATICAN CITY – US Vice-President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met for the first time since their White House spat
For the second time in weeks, world leaders and other dignitaries descended on Rome – this time to celebrate the first mass of Pope Leo XIV, who was chosen as pontiff in May.
Delegations from more than 100 countries are on hand at the Vatican. Mr Zelensky was greeted by some applause as he arrived in St Peter’s Square, and Pope Leo took a popemobile tour through the piazza.
Mr Zelensky was seated next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with Mr Vance close by.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been pushing for a meeting between the Brussels-based leader and the US administration as a trade war looms, and their proximity on May 18 may help pave the way.
As the first US-born pontiff, Pope Leo’s so far focused his message on achieving peace in Ukraine and Gaza, signalling that he might continue – or expand – the geopolitical engagement of his predecessor, Pope Francis.
US President Donald Trump, Mr Zelensky and Mr Vance last met at the White House in February, when they clashed over the future of peace in Ukraine in a televised meeting described as one of the worst diplomatic incidents in recent history.
During that meeting, Mr Vance asked Mr Zelensky if he had “ever said thank you once”
Mr Trump and Mr Zelensky met again in the Vatican last month at the funeral of Pope Francis, a brief discussion that the White House described as hopeful and Mr Zelensky called “substantive”.
Negotiations in Istanbul last week between Ukrainian and Russian
