JD Vance, Zelenskyy Meet In Rome To Push For Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine was the main topic of discussion during a meeting between U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on Sunday (local time). The conversation happened during Pope Leo XIV's first mass, which was celebrated in Vatican City's Saint Peter's Square. The meeting also included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The discussions focused on the common objective of halting the violence in Ukraine and reaching a peaceful settlement to the crisis, according to a statement from the Vice President's Office. The leaders also discussed the state of the Russia-Ukraine talks now underway in Istanbul, Turkey.

These negotiations, which are intended to achieve a ceasefire and create lasting peace, are the first direct interaction between the two countries after almost three years of fierce military conflict.

Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this afternoon in Rome, Italy. According to the official statement from the vice president's office, "The leaders gave updates on the current status of negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace and discussed their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine."

All three leaders, along with other dignitaries, including Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, attended the Vatican's two-hour ritual. Prior to this, Pope Leo XIV spent several years in Peru as a missionary and a bishop.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio had praised the prisoner exchange arrangement made during the recent Russia-Ukraine negotiations in a conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov before to the Rome summit.

Rubio reiterated President Donald Trump's statement on Saturday, stressing the need to put an end to the violence. "The devastation and death must end," he informed Lavrov.

Later, the U.S. State Department verified that Secretary Rubio had praised the prisoner swap deal reached during the Ukraine-Russian negotiations on May 16. "The United States is committed to achieving a lasting end to the Russia-Ukraine war," he added, echoing President Trump's remarks.

"The comprehensive peace plan proposed by the United States outlines the best way forward," the State Department statement continued. President Trump's demand for a rapid ceasefire and a stop to the hostilities was stressed by the Secretary.

(With Inputs from ANI.)