Donald Trump is sprinkled with special 'peace dust' before huge face-to-face war chat with Zelensky

Donald Trump and were seemingly sprinkled with some "peace dust" before their face-to-face meeting about the war in this morning, a body language expert has said. The American and Ukrainian leaders sat down for a chat in Saint Peter's Basilica, in the Vatican, where they were both attending the They were seen having a short conversation with before they sat down to speak.

It was their first in-person meeting since they argued during a heated Oval Office meeting at the White House in late February and according to expert Judi James, Macron acted as "an important catalyst" as the two presidents engaged in a conversation. Talking exclusively to The , Judi said: "Macron seems to leap in to frame to act as an important catalyst when it comes to setting the mood for the Vatican meeting between Trump and Zelensky.

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"While the US and the Ukraine leaders walk together talking, Zelensky suddenly spots Macron rushing up and extends one arm towards him in an inclusive gesture. His handshake is converted and upgraded by Macron into a sturdy, macho-style gripping of the hands that signals allegiance and loyalty in a warrior-style ritual."

According to Judi, the exchange between Zelensky and Macron seemed to "appeal to Trump's alpha traits" as he "immediately immerses himself in the action by touching both Macron and Zelensky and then later placing a hand on Zelensky's arm as his cocked head suggests he is listening to both men."

The expert said Macron appeared to show his skills to "global advantage" by seemingly encouraging Trump and Zelensky to have a chat. Judi explained: "Macron is a man who has always seemed keen to beat Trump at his own game in terms of power-shakes and alpha posturing but here he uses his skills to what looks like global advantage, peppering some peace dust over Trump and Zelensky before they sit down to their face-to-face negotiation."

After his meeting with Trump, Zelensky said their conversation on the sidelines of the Pope's funeral was "potentially historic". He wrote on social media: "Good meeting. One-on-one, we managed to discuss a lot. We hope for a result from all the things that were said. Protection of the lives of our people. Complete and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent a recurrence of war.

"A very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results. Thank you, President !"

The White House called the discussion "very productive" and said it would release more details later. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, where Francis often preached the need for a peaceful end to the war, just before Trump and Zelensky took their seats at the outdoor funeral service.

The Vatican long ago had offered to help facilitate peace talks and Francis had regularly called for peace and dialogue from the altar of the basilica. That Trump and Zelensky spoke privately, face to face and hunched over on chairs on the marbled floors of the Pope's home, on the day of his funeral, was perhaps a fitting way to honour the late pontiff's wishes.

The meeting came together hours after Trump said on social media, after he arrived in Italy late Friday, that and Ukraine should meet for "very high level talks" on ending the three-year war that was sparked by Russia's invasion. Trump has pressed both sides to quickly come to an agreement to end the war, but while Zelensky agreed to an American plan for an initial 30-day halt to hostilities, Russia has not signed on and has continued to strike at targets inside Ukraine.

Last week's hours-long missile and drone barrage of Kyiv that killed at least 12 people led Trump to appeal over social media for Russian President to end the strikes on Ukraine's capital. "Vladimir, STOP!" Trump wrote.

Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had met earlier on Friday with Putin in Moscow, and Trump said both sides were "very close to a deal." Putin did not attend Francis' funeral. He faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, which has accused him of war crimes stemming from Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.