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Zelenskyy Meets US VP Vance and Secretary of State Rubio for First Time Since White House Meeting
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![Ivan_khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
-21d0b63c17f6020e4df75f6c6f9a2f4f.jpg "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on Sunday, ahead of the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV.
The meeting marked the first official engagement between Zelenskyy and Vance since their public disagreement in Washington earlier this year.
According to the Office of the President of Ukraine, the parties discussed the May 15 peace talks in Istanbul. Zelenskyy informed the US officials that the Russian delegation sent to the negotiations was of a low level and lacked the authority to make binding decisions.
He reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for genuine diplomacy and emphasized the need for a full and unconditional ceasefire.
Good meeting with @VP J. D. Vance and Secretary of State @SecRubio in Rome.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 18, 2025
During our talks we discussed negotiations in Istanbul to where the Russians sent a low level delegation of non-decision-makers. I reaffirmed that Ukraine is ready to be engaged in real diplomacy and… pic.twitter.com/ko2cKKYvCZ
The meeting also covered the necessity of maintaining pressure on Russia through sanctions, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, and battlefield developments. Zelenskyy reiterated that pressure must continue until Russia demonstrates willingness to end its war against Ukraine.
The officials additionally addressed the issue of a future prisoner exchange. President Zelenskyy noted that discussions with Russia remain difficult due to unrealistic demands and repeated violations of ceasefire commitments made by Moscow. He stated that Russia’s conduct confirms its unwillingness to pursue a meaningful end to hostilities.
The Ukrainian leader concluded the meeting by expressing appreciation for continued US support and coordination toward a just and lasting peace.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican—the Pontiff’s first official audience with a foreign leader. According to the Office of the President, they discussed the war in Ukraine, potential Vatican mediation, and humanitarian issues, including the return of deported Ukrainian children and prisoner releases.
