Trump raises Putin doubts after Zelensky talks

US President Donald Trump cast doubt on whether Russian leader Mr Vladimir Putin wants a peace deal, shortly after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the hush of St Peter's Basilica before Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday.

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

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

“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions’?

“Too many people are dying!!!”

The war cast a shadow over Francis’s funeral. Even as it was taking place, Russia claimed its forces had “fully liberated” the border Kursk region.

Ukraine insisted, however, that its army was still fighting in Kursk, Russian territory which it hopes to use as a bargaining chip in any future peace talks.

'PRODUCTIVE DISCUSSION'

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

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

“Hoping for results on everything we covered.