Zelenskyy Presses Vance, Rubio for Ceasefire in Rome as Trump Eyes Putin Talks

In a whirlwind of diplomatic maneuvering, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday, as peace talks with Russia remain stubbornly stalled. The meeting, set against the backdrop of Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass at the Vatican, underscored the urgency of finding a path to peace in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, now dragging into its third year.

Zelenskyy, ever the resolute leader, took to X to share insights from the talks: "We discussed the Istanbul negotiations, where Russia sent a delegation of nobodies with no authority to decide anything." He emphasized Ukraine's readiness for genuine diplomacy, pushing for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. The Ukrainian president also pressed for tougher sanctions on Russia, enhanced defense cooperation, and a prisoner exchange, noting that sustained pressure is key to forcing Moscow to the table.

The Rome discussions come on the heels of last week's direct talks in Istanbul—the first in years between Russian and Ukrainian officials. Those talks, however, collapsed without a ceasefire agreement, leaving the war's brutal toll—thousands of soldiers killed weekly—unabated. A Russian drone strike on a passenger bus in northeastern Ukraine on Saturday further darkened the mood, a grim reminder of the conflict's human cost.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, fresh from a Middle East tour, is injecting himself into the fray. On Saturday, he announced plans for a Monday phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by talks with Zelenskyy and NATO leaders. Trump, never one for subtlety, posted on Truth Social: "I will be speaking to President Vladimir Putin... to stop the ‘bloodbath’ killing thousands." He expressed hope for a ceasefire to end what he called a "war that should have never happened."

Despite the diplomatic gridlock, a small victory emerged from Istanbul: Russia and Ukraine agreed to a significant prisoner swap. Yet, with no ceasefire in sight, the path to a "just and durable peace," as Zelenskyy put it, remains fraught. The world watches as leaders navigate this high-stakes chess game, where every move carries profound consequences.