INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky met briefly in the hush of St Peter's basilica on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday in
their first encounter since a noisy White House clash, as the U.S
President pushes the Ukrainian leader to make a peace deal with Russia.Zelensky said they discussed a possible unconditional ceasefire with
Russia and was "hoping for results" from a "very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic".The war cast a shadow over
preparations for Francis's funeral, and even as it took 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.The Ukrainian presidency released photos of Trump and Zelensky sitting face to face, leaning forward in deep
discussion in a corner of the basilica, as the Pope's simple wooden coffin lay in front of the altar before the funeral began."We discussed
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," Zelensky wrote on X.An aide to Zelensky described the meeting
as "constructive" and the White House called it "a very productive discussion".However, the U.S
President flew out of Rome as scheduled, immediately after the funeral mass and there were no further talks.But the two leaders also briefly
huddled inside the basilica with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, the French president's hand on Zelensky's
shoulder.Macron's office described the exchanges between the four leaders as "positive" and he later met Zelensky one-on-one.Outside in St
Peter's Square, Trump rubbed shoulders with dozens of world leaders 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 U.S
leader pushes for a peace deal.Both sides had kept the prospects of a meeting vague ahead of the funeral with Trump saying only it was
"possible".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 U.S
attacks on Ukraine, has recently blamed Zelensky for the war and the continuing bloodshed.Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine
in February 2022, triggering a conflict not seen in Europe for decades.Trump has pushed Zelensky to accept previously unpalatable
concessions such as acknowledging that Crimea, which Moscow seized in 2014, will remain in Russian hands under any deal to stop the
conflict.Arriving in Rome late Friday, Trump said there had been progress in talks and pushed for the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to
meet."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.Putin on Friday discussed the "possibility" of direct talks with Ukraine
envoy Steve Witkoff.But Zelensky again rejected suggestions that Ukraine give up Crimea.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.Few meetingsThe U.S
President, accompanied by his wife Melania, was making the first foreign trip of his second term.It put him centre-stage for a major
diplomatic gathering with some 50 heads of state, including 10 reigning monarchs, and Britain's Prince William.The trip also came after he
rattled European allies by imposing sweeping tariffs, although he at least temporarily has backed down from the most severe measures.The U.S
President shook hands with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen
The two have agreed to meet, a European Union spokesperson said.Other leaders also swarmed Trump after he arrived.One person he did not
meet: his predecessor Joe Biden
Trump has repeatedly disparaged Biden, a devout Catholic attending independently with wife Jill and sitting five rows behind his
successor.Previously, other presidents have taken their predecessors with them on Air Force One to papal funerals.Official Vatican images
showed Trump and Melania stopping by the closed coffin in St Peter's Basilica.Trump, in a dark blue suit and tie, and Melania, wearing a
black veil, then took their seats in the front row for the service.Trump had said any meetings would be quick and added: "Frankly it's a
little disrespectful to have meetings when you're at the funeral of the Pope."A Message from The Moscow Times:Dear readers,We are facing
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