Zelensky and JD Vance met for the first time since their "clash" at the White House

US Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met for the first time since their "clash" at the White House, smiling and shaking hands at the Vatican.

For the second time in as many weeks, world leaders and other dignitaries descended on Rome - this time to celebrate the first mass of Pope Leo XIV, who was elected as pope this month, foreign media write, according to Telegraph.

Delegations from more than 100 countries are present at the Vatican.

Zelensky, JD Vance shake hands in first meeting after White House fiery exchange. pic.twitter.com/aJKvluHCT0

— Roya News English (@RoyaNewsEnglish) May 18, 2025

Zelensky was greeted with applause as he arrived at St. Peter's Square, and the Pope took a "Popemobile" tour of the square.

There, Zelensky was seated next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with Vance nearby.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pushing for a meeting between the Brussels-based leader and the US administration as a trade war looms, and their closeness on Sunday could help pave the way.

As the first US-born pope, the new pontiff has so far focused his message on achieving peace in Ukraine and Gaza, signaling that he may continue – or expand – the geopolitical engagement of his predecessor, Pope Francis.

President Donald Trump, Zelensky and Vance last met at the White House in February, when they clashed over the future of peace in Ukraine in a televised meeting described as one of the worst diplomatic incidents in recent history.

Zelensky: "Have you ever actually been to Ukraine to see the problems we have?"

JD Vance: "I've been to.... I've actually seen and watched the stories." pic.twitter.com/ZXhMsF9ngM

- NEXTA (@nexta_tv) February 28, 2025

During that meeting, Vance asked Zelensky if he had "ever said thank you" for the billions of dollars in aid provided to the war-torn country by the US, since the full-scale invasion begun by Russia in 2022.

Trump and Zelensky met again at the Vatican last month at the funeral of Pope Francis, a brief discussion that the White House described as hopeful and Zelensky as "substantial."

Meanwhile, negotiations in Istanbul last week between Ukrainian and Russian teams failed to yield a breakthrough on a possible ceasefire.

Trump plans to call Vladimir Putin and Zelensky separately on Monday, he announced on Saturday, in an effort to stop the "bloodshed" in Ukraine. /Telegraph