Why these pictures of Trump meeting Zelensky are new hope for Ukraine > 자유게시판

Images of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, hunched forward on simple chairs in the middle of St Peter's Basilica on Saturday, almost give the impression of a pair of angry bulls locking horns. 

But a body language expert has told MailOnline that, rather than re-enacting their furious spat at the White House two months ago, the US and Ukrainian Presidents are in fact breaking new ground.

Judi James said the 'phenomenally intense' exchange of ideas, which took place shortly before the funeral of Pope Francis on Saturday, gave the impression of two chess grandmasters sizing one another up.

But rather than trying to lock horns, as they did in Washington DC in February, there was an altogether more conciliatory tone struck between the pair, judging by how they were speaking - later borne out by the pair's public statements.

Ms James told MailOnline: 'This is phenomenally intense-looking body language, made all the more surreal by the setting it's occurring in.

'Their poses here make them look like two men hunched over a game of chess, plotting and competing,' although here, she said, 'it's the fate of the world they are haggling over.'

She added: 'The horn-locking positioning of the heads could look sinister, suggesting conflict.

'But the close proximity of the two men here and the mirrored positions seems to weigh the balance in the direction of moving to agreement rather than conflict.'




Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with US President Donald Trump (L) at St Peter's Basilica on Saturday





It was the first time the pair met face to face since their disastrous meeting in February 





France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral







'When they fell out in the Oval Office there was a physical response of aggressive arousal with Trump in particular looking keen to register physical dominance,' James assessed.

But today, she said, 'both men here seem more intent in looking like physical and status equals'.

'Trump's feet are pushed under his chair, and he is on his toes, suggesting a desire to move and keep flexible in his discussion. 



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'His hands are clasped and his lips pursed to suggest a desire to listen. But Zelensky's feet are pushed out and planted flat on the floor, hinting at a more stubborn approach. 

'However, his cupped hands suggest a desire to persuade, with his raised brows suggesting he's keen to make a point.'

Trump and Zelensky later made separate statements on social media suggesting that the brief discussions were not just productive, but hugely positive.

Writing on X, Zelensky said: 'Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. 

'Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.

'Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you.'

Trump, writing on his own Truth Social website, took a uniquely strong stance against Vladimir Putin for his continued assault on Ukraine, which continued even as the Pope's funeral was taking place.









Following the Pope's funeral, Zelensky met SIr Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria at the home of the British ambassador to Italy






Downing Street said the bilateral discussions circled around 'positive progress made in recent days' on peace in Ukraine





Starmer and Zelensky met at the Villa Wolkonsky - named after the Russian singer who once called it home





Rumblings of a second meeting between Trump and Zelensky failed to manifest - but the US President was pictured speaking to Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni 





President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky at their contentious Oval Office meeting in February 

'There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,' he wrote.

'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!!!'

And while he said that Russia had been able to 'steal' the Crimean territory under the watch of predecessor Barack Obama, Trump appeared to suggest that returning the region to Ukraine was a 'ridiculous' request. 



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'No matter what deal I make with respect to Russia/Ukraine, no matter how good it is, even if it's the greatest deal ever made, The Failing New York Times will speak BADLY of it,' he fumed. 

The White House said that the pair had a 'very productive' meeting, and that more details would follow.

There had been suggestions that Trump and Zelensky would speak again following the Pope's funeral.

But those were put to bed as Trump headed immediately for Rome's Leonardo da Vinci International Airport with Melania to return to the US on board Air Force One.

He did, however, find a moment to speak with Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, who has been keen to court Trump as he unleashes a furious flurry of tariffs on trading partners, including the European Union.

Trump, Melania and Meloni were pictured talking as they walked through St Peter's Basilica, in an image released on Saturday afternoon by the Italian PM's office.

Francis's funeral has provided world leaders, including Sir Keir, an opportunity to speak face-to-face about the Ukraine war and other issues gripping the globe.

The Ukrainian leader received a round of applause as he stepped out into St Peter's Square from the basilica and was noticed by other political figures.









The White House said that the pair had a 'very productive' meeting 

It was noted, however, that Zelensky and his wife appeared to be sat out of step with the seating arrangements as dictated by the Vatican.

The seating plan was arranged by heads of state first, followed by heads of government, and were ordered by the French alphabet - meaning that Trump, as president of 'Les États-Unis', got a front row seat.

But Zelensky and Olena Zelenska found themselves sandwiched somewhere between French and Indian dignitaries despite the fact Ukraine remains the same in French. 



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A Vatican spokesperson did not deny that he was placed out of order in the arrangements, but claimed the Ukrainians were filling a 'vacant seat'.

Outside of their near-literal tête-à-tête, Zelensky and Trump also spoke with UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron at St Peter's Basilica.

Zelensky then met Sir Keir at the British ambassador to Italy's official home, Villa Wolkonsky - named after a Russian singer - for further talks.

Following their discussions, a Downing Street spokesperson said: 'The Prime Minister met President Zelensky in Rome this afternoon.

'They discussed positive progress made in recent days to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

'They agreed to maintain momentum and continue working intensively with international partners to drive forward the next stages of planning.

'The leaders agreed to speak again at the earliest opportunity.'

Trump was rubbing shoulders with dozens of world leaders at St Peter's Basilica in Rome keen to bend his ear on the tariffs he has unleashed and other subjects.

But it was the meeting with Zelensky that drew the most interest as the US leader pushes the Ukrainian to make a peace deal with Russia.




President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and Estonian president Alar Karis at the Pope's funeral





Ukraine' s Frist Lady Olena Zelenska (L), Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (2nd L) arrive at the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on April 26, 2025 in Vatican City, Vatican







Trump and Zelensky, both accompanied by their wives, sat in the front row of the funeral in St Peter's Square but were separated by nearly a dozen leaders. 

Zelensky glanced Trump's way but they were not seen to meet in public. 

Both sides had kept the prospects of a meeting vague ahead of the funeral with Trump saying only it was 'possible'.



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Tensions have been high since Trump and Vice President JD Vance berated Zelensky in the Oval Office on February 28, calling him ungrateful for the billions of dollars of US military assistance given since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The US president has claimed a deal is 'very close' to being agreed and that Ukraine and Russia now need to meet at 'a very high level' for talks - while pushing Ukraine to accept a deal that would see it surrender vast swathes of Russian-occupied land.

Zelensky has insisted he will not recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea, the region occupied by Moscow's forces since 2014, nor continued Kremlin control in Ukraine's south and east.

He has called for Russian President Vladimir Putin to instead accept an unconditional end to the fighting.

Trump had previously warned both sides his administration would walk away from its efforts to achieve a peace if the two sides do not agree a deal soon.

He has threatened Zelensky that he will withdraw all U.S. support. 

Arriving in Rome late Friday to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, Trump pushed for Russian and Ukrainian leaders to meet after what he said was progress in talks.

'They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off',' he posted on his Truth Social platform.

'Most of the major points are agreed to,' he said.




France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky





US President Donald Trump (L) and his wife Melania Trump attend late Pope Francis' funeral ceremony at St Peter's Square in The Vatican on April 26, 2025





Pallbearers carry the coffin during the funeral of Pope Francis in St. Peter's Square on April 26







Putin on Friday meanwhile discussed the 'possibility' of direct talks with Ukraine in a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff.

But Zelensky again rejected suggestions that Ukraine give up Crimea, and Witkoff's meeting with Putin came just after a top Russian general was killed in a car bomb attack outside Moscow.

An increasingly frustrated Trump last week threatened to walk away from peace efforts if he does not see progress towards a ceasefire.



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Trump last year promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours if elected president, though he said in a Time magazine interview this week that he was speaking 'in jest'.

The US president has been critical of Ukraine for, in his opinion, putting obstacles in the way of a ceasefire.

Ukraine has asked for security guarantees to stop Russia reopening the conflict at a later date, and has drawn a red line around ceding territory to its belligerent invader.

But Trump directed his ire towards Moscow earlier this week as Russian attacks on Kyiv killed at least 12 people - the deadliest such attack since last July.

'I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!' he wrote.

The Russian despot has not stopped, however - launching kamikaze drone strikes even as the Pope's funeral went ahead. 

One strike hit a residential building in Kamianske in Dnipropetrovsk region, killing one man and wounding four.

A woman was said to be in a 'serious' condition, with two apartments in a nine-storey tower set ablaze by the brutal Russian onslaught.

Putin was not on the guest-list to attend Francis' funeral as there is currently an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest. Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova attended on his behalf. 

In a similar move, Israeli ambassador to the Vatican, Yaron Zeidman, was reported to be attending on behalf of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also the subject of an international arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.




Apartment buildings in Kamianske in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine were struck by Russian kamikaze drones in an overnight Saturday attack





A woman is seen throwing debris from the window of her destroyed flat following the strikes





Vladimir Putin did not attend the Pope's funeral, as there is an international arrest warrant against his name





Russian culture minister Olga Lyubimova attended on his behalf (pictured at the funeral taking a picture on her phone)

The Kremlin on Friday then accused Ukraine of being behind a car explosion in the Moscow region, which killed a senior military official.

Footage showed a powerful blast destroying a Volkswagen Golf at around 10.40am local time (7.40am GMT), which reports said 'threw the general several metres away'.

Russian investigators confirmed the death of Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces. 

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for what appeared to be a deliberate attack. 

But the Kremlin accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, saying that if Ukrainian involvement is confirmed, it would be a sign of Kyiv's 'barbaric' nature and suggesting Ukraine was 'escalating' in an effort to ruin ceasefire talks.

'There are reasons to believe that Ukraine's special services were involved in the murder,' Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement, without providing evidence.

Russia's Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, said earlier today that Moscow was 'ready to reach a deal' with the mediating United States to end the war in Ukraine, adding that some elements of a proposed deal still need to be 'fine tuned'.

Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko broke ranks in suggesting that Ukraine may have to 'temporarily' cede territory for a deal to be made.

The Kremlin will be seeking to appease the US with a show of good faith after the Trump administration threatened to walk away from its intermediary role earlier this week, unless the two sides can come to an agreement.


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