Lip reader reveals what Trump and Zelensky said to each other at Pope's funeral

A "lip reader" has revealed what Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump said to each other at the Pope's funeral, in what was their first meeting since their confrontation in the Oval Office.

The leaders of the US and Ukraine spoke for about 15 minutes inside St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, in a meeting that Zelensky described as potentially 'historic'.

The White House also hailed the meeting as 'very productive' as world leaders try to find a way to end the war in Ukraine, which has been going on for more than three years.

Footage from the meeting shows Trump, in a blue suit, and Zelensky, in a black shirt and pants, engaged in an intense conversation as they sit across from each other - both leaning forward on the edge of their chairs.

Later, the two world leaders were joined by Sir Keir Starmer of Great Britain and Emmanuel Macron of France, who warmly embraced Zelensky and placed their hand on the Ukrainian president's shoulder.

During the hastily arranged bilateral meeting on the eve of Pope Francis' funeral, Trump is said to have offered Zelensky 'assurance', according to a "lip reader".

Although only a brief clip of the meeting exists, lip reader Nicola Hickling has revealed that Zelensky told Trump: 'I'd like you to do this, but not this way.'

Trump is said to have then replied: 'It's a very interesting strategy, I'm sure.'

Analyzing the momentous meeting, Ms. Hickling also suggested that there was a frosty exchange between Trump and Macron when the French president arrived as the two chairs for the US and Ukrainian presidents were being set up.

Macron can be seen warmly embracing Zelensky before Trump pulls the French president towards him, they write. foreign media, the Telegraph reports.

According to Hickling, Trump told Macron, "Slowly, let me bring..." before they were removed from the camera's view.

Trump then warns the French president: "... I want you to do me a favor, you shouldn't be here."

This came amid Trump and Zelensky's first face-to-face meeting since the pair clashed at the White House in February, when the US president told his Ukrainian counterpart "you have no papers."

Trump repeated the same message earlier this week, first blaming Ukraine for starting the war and accusing Zelensky of obstructing peace negotiations.

However, the White House insisted that the latest meeting was "very productive", while Zelensky described it as "very symbolic" and a meeting that could be important "if we can achieve joint results".

Meanwhile, a photo of the meeting was posted by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who wrote on Twitter: "No words are needed to describe the significance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter's Basilica."

Zelensky also said that the meeting, which took place shortly before the start of the Pope's funeral, had "the potential to become historic."

Trump and Zelensky then descended the steps of the basilica, where the Ukrainian leader was greeted with thunderous applause from the crowd before taking their seats in the front row.

They sat a short distance apart, with Macron and other world leaders seated between them.

And after the positive meeting with Zelensky, Trump quickly turned against Vladimir Putin – questioning his willingness to end the war in Ukraine.

The US president said he feared Putin was pushing him to act, after Moscow continued to fire missiles at Kiev earlier this week.

Mr. Trump's hardening of stance against Putin will raise hopes in Kiev for a peace deal that does not involve the cession of land from Ukraine to Russia.

In recent weeks, Trump has proposed a plan where the US would officially recognize Crimea – which Putin has occupied since 2014 – as Russian.

Recall that Trump has threatened that the US will withdraw from peace talks if Zelensky does not accept the agreement. /Telegraph/