Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on May 18th, just after attending the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV in Rome. The sit-down marked the first public meeting between Zelensky and Vance since their tense Oval Office encounter with former President Donald Trump back in February.
During the talks, Zelensky zeroed in on the sluggish progress of peace negotiations in Istanbul, criticizing Russia for sending what he described as a “low-level delegation of non-decision-makers.” Posting on X, Zelensky stressed Ukraine’s commitment to genuine diplomacy and reiterated the urgency of achieving a full, unconditional ceasefire.
The trio also tackled a range of pressing issues—from strengthening sanctions on Moscow to ramping up defense ties and boosting trade. They didn’t overlook the realities on the ground either, discussing battlefield developments and the upcoming prisoner exchange.
In short, Zelensky used the opportunity to reinforce Ukraine’s readiness for meaningful peace talks while urging the U.S. to keep the pressure on Russia through economic and military support.
