Ukraine's President Pushes for Peace Amidst Global Diplomatic Efforts

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the most of his time in Rome. He met with key figures from the U. S. and Europe. This happened just before a crucial phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The goal? To find a way to stop the fighting in Ukraine. Zelenskyy had a chat with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. They talked about the need for real talks and a complete stop to the fighting. Zelenskyy also mentioned sanctions against Russia, trade, defense teamwork, and the situation on the battlefield. He stressed that pressure on Russia is crucial until they are ready to end the war. This meeting was the first face-to-face chat between Vance and Zelenskyy since a tense meeting in February. Trump plans to talk to Putin about ending the "bloodbath" in Ukraine. He will also speak with Zelenskyy and leaders from NATO countries. Rubio thinks the best way forward is a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin. He said Trump is ready to meet as soon as possible. However, the details are not yet worked out. Zelenskyy also met with Pope Leo XIV after the Mass. He believes the Vatican can play a big role in ending the war. He thanked the Vatican for being ready to host direct talks between Ukraine and Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke with Zelenskyy and Rubio. He agreed with the leaders of France and Britain to talk with the American president. He said both Europeans and Americans are determined to end the war soon. Putin turned down Zelenskyy's offer to meet face-to-face in Turkey. Instead, he proposed talks at a lower level as an alternative to a 30-day ceasefire. The talks in Istanbul ended quickly, but both sides agreed on a prisoner exchange. Vance also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. He met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, U. K. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy later in the day. Vance said Europe is an important ally of the U. S. , despite some disagreements on trade. All this diplomatic activity happened as Russia launched a massive drone attack on Ukraine. This was the biggest drone attack since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine's air force said Russia fired 273 drones, targeting Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk regions. Many were intercepted or jammed.