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Shortly after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Vatican, President Donald Trump accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of prolonging Russia\u2019s war with Ukraine and threatened secondary sanctions in a post on Truth Social<\/a>, days after Trump had issued another rare criticism targeting Putin.<\/p>\n Trump and Zelensky met in the Vatican on Saturday, just before Pope Francis’s funeral.(Ukrainian … More Presidential Press Office via AP)<\/p>\n Ukrainian Presidential Press Office <\/p>\n Key Facts<\/p>\n In his Truth Social<\/a> post, Trump said there is \u201cno reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,\u201d offering another criticism of the Russian president as peace talks with Ukraine continue.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes me think that maybe [Putin] doesn\u2019t want to stop the war, he\u2019s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently,\u201d Trump said, threatening secondary sanctions.<\/p>\n Trump made the post hours after meeting with Zelenskyy at Pope Francis\u2019s funeral in Rome, which Zelenskyy praised as a \u201cgood meeting,\u201d though Trump did not mention the talks in his Truth Social post.<\/p>\n Trump had criticized Putin earlier this week, writing in a Truth Social<\/a> post he is \u201cnot happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV,\u201d which he said are \u201cnot necessary, and very bad timing,\u201d adding: \u201cVladimir, STOP!\u201d<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Saturday morning post also took aim at media coverage of his mediation of the Ukraine and Russia peace talks, as well as both of his predecessors, former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, whom he accused of leaving him a \u201cmess\u201d to clean up.<\/p>\n What Did Trump And Zelenskyy Discuss In Rome?<\/p>\n Trump and Zelenskyy spoke inside St. Peter\u2019s Basilica in the Vatican, the location of Pope Francis\u2019s funeral, which brought together dozens of world leaders. Though it\u2019s unclear what exactly Trump and Zelenskyy discussed, Zelenskyy praised the talks in a post on X<\/a>, calling it a \u201cgood meeting\u201d and a \u201cvery symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.\u201d In Zelenskyy\u2019s post, he said he hoped for \u201cresults on everything we covered,\u201d including a \u201cfull and unconditional ceasefire,\u201d protecting \u201clives of our people\u201d and achieving \u201creliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out.\u201d A White House spokesperson told CNN<\/a> the two leaders \u201cmet privately today and had a very productive discussion,\u201d stating the discussion lasted about 15 minutes and Trump and Zelenskyy both agreed to continue talks.<\/p>\n What Is The Status Of U.s. Talks With Russia And Ukraine?<\/p>\n Trump, in a Truth Social<\/a> post on Friday, said work on a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia is \u201cgoing smoothly,\u201d as U.S. leaders have indicated frustration that peace has not come sooner. Last week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said<\/a> the United States would walk away from talks if progress is not made soon, stating \u201cif it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on.\u201d Trump, when asked about Rubio\u2019s comments by reporters, said if either party makes negotiations difficult, \u201cwe\u2019re just going to say: \u2018You\u2019re foolish. You\u2019re fools. You\u2019re horrible people,\u2019 and we\u2019re going to just take a pass.\u201d On Truth Social on Friday, Trump pressured Zelenskyy to sign the stalled minerals deal between the United States and Ukraine, which Zelenskyy had previously said<\/a> he was ready to sign in March. In Trump\u2019s interview with TIME<\/a>, given on Tuesday and published Friday, Trump said<\/a> Crimea would \u201cstay with Russia,\u201d which Zelenskyy has vehemently opposed, stating \u201cZelenskyy understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time.\u201d Trump told reporters<\/a> Thursday Putin has offered \u201cpretty big concessions\u201d to stop the war, stating he no longer wants \u201cthe whole country.\u201d<\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s Saturday meeting with Zelenskyy was their first in-person discussion since their Oval Office clash<\/a> in February. After Zelenskyy said Putin could not be trusted to honor a ceasefire, Vice President JD Vance accused him of trying to \u201clitigate\u201d the conflict \u201cin front of the American media.\u201d Trump, in a raised voice, accused Zelenskyy of \u201cgambling with World War III\u201d and threatened to walk away from the Ukraine-Russia talks.<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n