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 Oval Office showdown.

The US and Ukrainian leaders spoke for around 15 minutes inside St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, in a meeting which Zelensky described as having the potential to be ‘historic’.

The White House also hailed the meeting as ‘very productive’ as world leaders scramble to try and find a way to end the war in Ukraine which has been raging for more than three years.

Footage from the meeting shows Trump, in a blue suit, and Zelensky, in a black top and trousers, locked in an intense conversation while sitting opposite each other – both intensely leaning forward on the edge of their chairs. 

Later, the two world leaders were joined by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron, who warmly embraced Zelensky and placed his hand on the Ukrainian president’s shoulder. 

During the hastily organised bilateral meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral, Trump is said to have offered Zelensky ‘reassurance’, according to a lip reader.

Although there is only a brief clip of the meeting, forensic lip reader Nicola Hickling has revealed Zelensky told Trump: ‘I would like you to do that but not this way.’

Trump is then said to have replied: ‘It’s a very interesting strategy, you have reassurance.’

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

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) meets with US President Donald Trump (L) at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday

French President Emmanuel Macron appeared moments before Zelensky and Trump sat down. He warmly shook hands with Zelensky

French President Emmanuel Macron appeared moments before Zelensky and Trump sat down. He warmly shook hands with Zelensky 

But a lip reader has warned that Macron was told by Trump: 'You are not in the right here, I need you to do me a favour, you should not be here.'

But a lip reader has warned that Macron was told by Trump: ‘You are not in the right here, I need you to do me a favour, you should not be here.’

It was their first face-to-face meeting since their contentious Oval Office meeting in February (pictured)

It was their first face-to-face meeting since their contentious Oval Office meeting in February (pictured)

Macron can be seen warmly locking hands with Zelensky before Trump pulls the French president towards him. 

According to Ms Hickling, Trump told Macron, ‘Slow down, let me bring…’ before they are removed from the camera shot. 

Trump then warns the French president: ‘You are not in the right here, I need you to do me a favour, you should not be here.’ 

Ms Hickling pointed out how Zelensky nods in agreement when Trump says this to Macron, while the vicar on the edge of the huddle appears to ‘uncomfortably’ turn away.

It 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 don’t have the cards’. 

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

However, the White House insisted the latest meeting was ‘very productive’, while Zelensky described it as ‘very symbolic’ and one which could prove to be significant ‘if we can achieve joint results’.

A photo of the meeting was posted by Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha who wrote on X:  ‘No words are needed to describe the importance of this historic meeting. Two leaders working for peace in St. Peter’s Basilica.’

Zelensky also said the meeting, which took place shortly before the Pope’s funeral began, had the ‘potential to become historic’. 

He said on Telegram: ‘Good meeting. We discussed a lot one-on-one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you.’

France's President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral

France’s President Emmanuel Macron, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump speak with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of Pope Francis’s funeral

The White House said that the pair, locked in an intense conversation, had a 'very productive' meeting

The White House said that the pair, locked in an intense conversation, had a ‘very productive’ meeting 

Afterwards, Trump and Zelensky walked down the steps of the basilica, where the Ukrainian leader was met with huge applause from the crowds before they took their seats in the front row.

They were sat a short distance from each other, with Macron and other world leaders sat in between.

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

The US president said he feared Putin was stringing him along after Moscow continued to rain missiles down on Kyiv earlier this week.

On his Truth Social account, he said: ‘There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns over the last few days. It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!’

Mr Trump’s hardening of his stance against Putin will raise hopes in Kyiv of a peace deal that does not involve Ukraine ceding land to Russia.

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

Following the Pope's funeral, Zelensky met SIr Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria at the home of the British ambassador to Italy

Following the Pope’s funeral, Zelensky met SIr Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria at the home of the British ambassador to Italy

Starmer and Zelensky met at the Villa Wolkonsky - named after the Russian singer who once called it home

Starmer and Zelensky met at the Villa Wolkonsky – named after the Russian singer who once called it home

Rumblings of a second meeting between Trump and Zelensky failed to manifest - but the US President was pictured speaking to Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni

Rumblings of a second meeting between Trump and Zelensky failed to manifest – but the US President was pictured speaking to Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni 

The US will also recognise Russian control of southern and eastern regions of Ukraine that Putin’s forces have taken since 2022.

Trump has threatened that the US will walk away from the peace talks if Zelensky does not accept the deal.

During the funeral ceremony in St Peter’s Square, the Vatican appeared to break with its own protocol by giving Zelensky and his wife Olena front-row seats among world leaders.

After the funeral, Zelenksy had meetings with Macron and Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni.

He was also invited to the British ambassador’s residence in Rome, where he met Starmer and his wife, Victoria.

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