Zelenskyy Meets US Vice President Vance in Vatican After White House Dispute

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Vatican during Pope Leo XIV's inauguration, marking their first meeting since a public dispute in the White House earlier this year. The meeting included a handshake and was held at the U.S. ambassador’s residence, with both sides aiming to move past previous tensions. Zelenskyy and Vance’s February clash had led to a suspension of U.S. military assistance to Ukraine, but the recent encounter suggests a thaw in relations amid ongoing discussions about the war in Ukraine. The meeting also coincided with remarks from Pope Leo XIV, who called for peace for a "martyred Ukraine." U.S. officials and Zelenskyy’s team, including top aide Andriy Yermak, participated in the talks ahead of an upcoming call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. This diplomatic engagement highlights efforts to maintain U.S.-Ukraine cooperation despite earlier disagreements.