Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Rome on Sunday, marking their first encounter since a tense exchange in Washington earlier this year. Their meeting coincided with Russia’s largest drone assault yet on Kyiv, according to Ukrainian officials.
The leaders met at the U.S. ambassador’s residence following Pope Leo XIV’s inaugural mass at the Vatican. In a statement, Zelensky said they discussed the recent talks in Istanbul—where Ukraine and Russia agreed to a prisoner exchange but made no headway on a ceasefire—alongside defense cooperation, sanctions, bilateral trade, and the battlefield situation.
Also present were U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak. A White House statement described the meeting as a discussion on “shared goals of ending the bloodshed” and progressing toward a ceasefire and peace.
The mood appeared more amicable than their February Oval Office clash, with a photo showing both leaders smiling. A senior Ukrainian official described the Rome meeting as going “better” than before.
Vance also met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in what the White House called “constructive” talks.
Preparations are underway for a planned phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Trump announced the call on Truth Social, saying he hopes to stop the “BLOODBATH” in Ukraine. Leaders from the UK, Germany, and France are also seeking dialogue with Trump ahead of the call.
Record Drone Barrage Hits Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russia launched a massive drone attack overnight, targeting several regions including Kyiv. Ukraine’s Air Force reported 273 drones launched—88 were shot down, and 128 veered off course. Two civilians were killed, one in Kyiv and another in the Kherson region. Deputy PM Yulia Svyrydenko called it a “record” strike and accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians.
Russia claimed to have downed 25 Ukrainian drones and captured the village of Bahatyr in Donetsk as it pushes ahead with its offensive, despite peace talks.
In a Sunday interview, President Putin reiterated that Russia’s objective is to “eliminate the causes” of the war and ensure national security—phrases often used to justify the invasion, which began in February 2022. The West views the conflict as an aggressive land grab, rejecting Russia’s narrative.
Friday’s Istanbul talks concluded with an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners from each side, offering a rare but limited diplomatic breakthrough.
