ANI
19 May 2025, 02:28 GMT+10
Rome [Italy], May 19 (ANI): US Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on Sunday (local time) on the sidelines of Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass at Saint Peter's Square in Vatican City.
According to a statement from the Office of the Vice President, the focus of the meeting was on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with discussions centred on their shared objective of halting the bloodshed in Ukraine.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present at the meeting.
Both parties also discussed the current status of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, Turkiye, which aim to achieve a ceasefire and establish lasting peace in the region.
'This afternoon in Rome, Italy, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The leaders discussed their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine and provided updates on the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace,' the statement from the VP's office read.
All three were among the attendees of Sunday's two-hour-long liturgy in the Vatican, along with the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, the country where Pope Leo served as both a missionary and a bishop for several decades.
The negotiations in Istanbul were the first face-to-face meeting of both countries after three years of tough military confrontation.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and welcomed the prisoner exchange agreement reached during Russia-Ukraine talks.
During his conversation on Saturday, Rubio reiterated Trump's message, stating, 'The death and destruction must stop.'
Secretary Rubio welcomed the prisoner exchange agreement reached during the May 16 session of the Ukraine-Russia talks and delivered President Trump's strong message: 'The United States is committed to achieving a lasting end to the Russia-Ukraine war,' according to the US State Department.
'The comprehensive peace plan proposed by the United States outlines the best way forward. The Secretary emphasised President Trump's call for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the violence,' the statement added.
Earlier in that day, US President Donald Trump said that he would hold separate phone calls with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, with an aim to stop the 'bloodbath.'
'I will be speaking, by telephone, to President Vladimir Putin of Russia on Monday, at 10:00 am The subjects of the call will be stopping the 'bloodbath' that is killing, on average, more than 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, and trade...,' Trump wrote on 'Truth Social'.
'I will then be speaking to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine and various members of NATO. Hopefully, it will be a productive day, a ceasefire will take place, and this very violent war, a war that should have never happened, will end. God bless us all!!!' he added. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Mexico City Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico City Sun.
More Information(250518) -- BUENOS AIRES, May 18, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Pedestrians walk in rain on a street in Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 17, 2025. The...
New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): After the Congress criticised the Centre for 'sidelining' the Opposition by not including Lok Sabha...
Los Angeles [US], May 17 (ANI): Liam Payne will be seen for one last time in Netflix's upcoming music competition show 'Building the...
BRASILIA- Brazil, 17th May, 2025 (WAM) - The UAE, represented by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI), participated in...
New Delhi [India], May 17 (ANI): Union Minister of Power, Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal, has embarked on an official visit...
(250517) -- IMOLA, May 17, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Pit crew of McLaren work on the car of Oscar Piastri of Australia during the second practice...
STOCKHOLM, Sweden: Sweden plans to propose that the European Union join the Pacific Rim trading bloc, the CPTPP, aiming to create the...
Trump to speak with Putin, Zelensky on Monday U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will speak separately with Russian...
Steve Witkoff says first direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in three years were an important step to peace ...
Steve Witkoff says first direct Russian-Ukrainian talks in three years were an important step to peace US President Donald Trump's...
Tel Aviv [Israel], May 19 (ANI): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that acting on the recommendations from the Israel...
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 19 (ANI): Multiple stations under Moradabad Railway divisions lit up, played patriotic songs...