Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Rome on the sidelines of the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV. Zelenskyy stressed his stance of seeking an unconditional ceasefire with Russia.



The meeting on Sunday comes one day before planned telephone talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.



Zelenskyy wrote on social media that during Sunday's meeting, they discussed direct talks between Ukraine and Russia held on Friday, the need for sanctions against Russia and the battlefield situation. The Ukrainian president also said he underscored the importance of a full and unconditional ceasefire as soon as possible.



Ukraine has expressed an intention to accept an unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days in line with Trump's request. Russia has not agreed to that appeal.



Before the phone talks between Trump and Putin, Zelenskyy apparently wants the US to put pressure on Russia.



In February, Zelenskyy and Vance had a heated argument at the White House. But a photo posted on social media shows the two smiling in the latest meeting.



The Ukrainian president said he also met the new pope. He said the pontiff is a symbol of hope for peace, expressing his expectations for the pope to play a role in ending Russia's aggression against Ukraine.