President Trump and his spouse, First Woman Melania, had been among the many key world figures to attend Pope Francis’ funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican Metropolis on Saturday, April 26. Trump joined dozens of heads of state to bid farewell to the chief of the Catholic Church, who died on April 21, on the age of 88, after a collection of difficult well being points.
However forward of taking his seat for the service, Trump had a quick assembly with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The 2 met on the sidelines of the funeral, earlier than proceedings started. It was their first in-person assembly since their highly-documented Oval Office showdown in February, which noticed the 2 world leaders conflict when discussing the Ukraine-Russia battle.
The Trump-Zelensky sit-down comes shortly after Trump delivered a uncommon public rebuke of Russian President Vladmir Putin, with whom he has usually loved a powerful relationship. Taking to his social media platform, Fact Social, on Thursday, April 24, Trump referred to as out Russia’s chief over a lethal assault on Kyiv, Ukraine. “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not obligatory, and really dangerous timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 troopers per week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!,” he wrote.
Though Trump had beforehand stated that he would finish the conflict in Ukraine on the primary day of his second time period within the White Home, the battle rages on. In a sit-down interview with TIME on April 22, Trump answered whether or not he felt peace was attainable if Putin remains to be President of Russia.
“I feel with me as President, there’s—attainable, if [a] very possible [chance],” Trump stated. “If any individual else is President, no probability.”
Trump went on to say: “I imagine I am the one one that may get this factor negotiated. And I feel we’re a good distance. We have had excellent talks, and we’re getting very near a deal. And I do not imagine anyone else might have made that deal.”
Learn Extra: The Full Transcript of Donald Trump’s ‘100 Days’ Interview With TIME
Nonetheless, Trump shared a vastly different sentiment on Saturday, April 26, when he returned to Fact Social within the hours following Pope Francis’ funeral.
Trump expressed doubt that Putin needs to finish the conflict in Ukraine, and hinted at sanctions in opposition to Russia.
“There was no purpose for Putin to be taking pictures missiles into civilian areas, cities, and cities, over the previous couple of days,” Trump stated. “It makes me suppose that possibly he doesn’t need to cease the conflict, he’s simply tapping me alongside, and needs to be handled otherwise, via ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many individuals are dying!”
