Politics
Vance, Zelensky Shake Hands In First Encounter Since Contentious Oval Office Meeting
Vice President J.D. Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shook hands on Sunday in their first public meeting since the contentious Oval Office blowup earlier this year.
Vance and Zelensky briefly encountered each other while attending the first formal mass held by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Basilica. Both men could be seen smiling as they spoke, while Second Lady Usha Vance joined her husband in greeting the Ukrainian leader.
Zelensky was seated nearby European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, not far from the vice president. Vance led the U.S. delegation alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a fellow Catholic.
Following the brief encounter at the mass, Vance and Zelensky met privately in the Villa Taverna, the residence of the U.S. ambassador to Italy, according to a statement released by the vice president’s office. Rubio and Andriy Yermak, who leads the Office of the President of Ukraine, were also in attendance.
JD Vance, Rubio, and Zelensky at the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV pic.twitter.com/xCu6f3YpFW
— Jack Poso
(@JackPosobiec) May 18, 2025
The last time Vance and Zelensky spoke came during the contentious February 28 Oval Office meeting, which ended abruptly after a spat between the two.
When Vance suggested that Zelensky was being ungrateful considering the billions of dollars in U.S. aid sent to Ukraine, the Ukrainian leader responded by claiming that the U.S. will soon be under direct attack if it cuts off military aid. The comment enraged President Trump, who called an immediate end to the meeting.
Relations have been improving in recent weeks, however, as Zelensky has expressed willingness to negotiate and signed a long-awaited economic agreement with the United States. Trump and Zelensky also held what both described as a “productive” conversation during Pope Francis’ funeral last month.
Sunday’s meeting comes just days after Ukraine and Russia engaged in their first direct talks since the conflict in wider Ukraine erupted in 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin had initially said he would be attending the talks, which were held in Turkey, but bailed at the last minute.
Rubio has stated that the only way to achieve a diplomatic breakthrough at this stage of the conflict would be a face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin. Trump has expressed openness to a meeting, while the two world leaders are expected to talk in a high-stakes phone call on Monday.
