Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with President Trump on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral was the “best” the two have had, the Ukrainian president revealed Saturday as the US finalizes new sanctions hoping to squeeze the Kremlin into submission.
“I believe that we had the best conversation with President Trump of all those that have taken place before,” Zelensky said in a video released by his office.
“It may have been the shortest, but it was the most substantive,” he added.
Zelensky said the two also discussed US sanctions on Russia during their 15-minute confab, and that Trump responded “very strong” to them.
The leaders pulled up two chairs at the Vatican last Saturday and spoke face-to-face for the first time since their infamous Oval Office blowout in late February, which led to the collapse of a minerals deal.
After the funeral, Trump threatened to deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin “differently, through banking or secondary sanctions,” accusing him of “tapping” him along.
By Friday, US officials had reportedly finalized new economic sanctions against the Kremlin, targeting energy, natural resources and banking, according to Reuters, though Trump still has to sign off on the measures.
The targets include state-owned Russian energy giant Gazprom, according to reports.
The US National Security Council “is trying to coordinate … more punitive actions against Russia,” an official told the outlet.
Zelensky also said he reiterated to Trump the need to purchase US weapons and bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
“I told him about the quantity, and he told me that they would work on it, that these things are not free,” he said.
The long-awaited minerals deal between the two countries was finally inked on Wednesday, and Zelensky said it would allow his country to defend future US investments, as well as its own territory and people.
The agreement creates an investment fund, which is expected to generate revenue through oil, gas and mineral rights sold in Ukraine. It also allows the Trump administration to send weapons and military gear to Kyiv without costing the US taxpayers.
Ukraine bought $310.5 million worth of F-16 fighter jet training and equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on Friday — the first purchase as part of the deal.
Yet the war continues to escalate with Moscow blasting the northeastern city of Kharkiv late Friday, night wounding 47 people.
Local officials said drones hit 12 locations in Ukraine’s second-largest city and damaged residential buildings and vehicles.
The Russian assault was conducted with thermobaric warheads that cause widespread destruction with powerful blasts and fiery clouds of smoke, Kharkiv’s Prosecutor’s Office said Saturday on Telegram.
Zelensky responded to the attack proclaiming, “Only strength and sanctions will force Russia to stop.”
“While the world hesitates with decisions, nearly every night in Ukraine turns into a nightmare, costing lives,” he wrote on X Saturday. “Strong and real decisions are needed from our partners — the United States, Europe, all our partners who seek peace.”
Kyiv has called for an immediate, US-backed cease-fire lasting at least 30 days, which Putin has refused. The Russian strongman has instead offered up just a three-day pause around May 9, when Russia celebrates Victory Day, marking its World War II victory over Nazi Germany.
Zelensky rejected the Kremlin’s proposal as a “theatrical performance,” according to reports.
But Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Putin’s Security Council, warned against any Ukrainian provocation on the Russian holiday, threatening on Telegram that “nobody will be able to guarantee that Kyiv will live to see May 10.”
With Post wires