According to Sky News, the funeral also marked the first time Trump and Zelenskyy came face-to-face since their tense meeting earlier this year at the White House. Sources reported that the two had a “very productive discussion” after traveling to Rome.

Trump later claimed that a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia was “very close” and urged Zelenskyy to “get it done” via Truth Social. Before leaving Washington, Trump spoke warmly of Pope Francis, but once in Rome, his focus seemed to shift to political meetings and trade talks, adding another layer of complexity to an already emotional event.