President Trump flew briefly this weekend right into a European continent he has thrown into chaos in latest months, paying respects to Pope Francis at his funeral, but additionally assembly with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine at a crucial second that will determine each the nation’s boundaries and its destiny.
Mr. Trump was on the bottom in Rome for about 14 hours, and left instantly after the providers for the pope in St. Peter’s Sq., stopping just for handshakes or greetings with just a few of the presidents, prime ministers, royals and spiritual leaders who got here to the ceremony.
It was a startlingly quick turnaround for the primary abroad journey of a brand new president, and left no time for dialogue of his tariffs on the European Union, his flip towards normalizing relations with Russia or his insistence that Europeans should take far bigger accountability for their very own protection.
Mr. Trump advised aides he wished to make it again to his golf resort in New Jersey earlier than the tip of the day.
The pageantry of the funeral, together with the seating of dignitaries and a second within the service when world leaders joined in handshakes of peace, lent itself to diplomatic tea-leaf studying. However Mr. Trump’s assembly of quarter-hour or so with Mr. Zelensky was surrounded with a symbolism and thriller of its personal.
Images of the session launched by Ukraine confirmed that the assembly befell in St. Peter’s Basilica, the 2 males perched on cushioned steel chairs, deep in dialog as they waited for the providers to start. It was a outstanding scene — an impromptu assembly between two males who’ve made no secret of their deep dislike and mistrust for one another.
