A lip reader has given their take on what Volodymyr Zelenskyy ‘said to Donald Trump’ during their impromptu meeting on Saturday (26 April), as well as the 'frosty warning' Trump gave to Emmanuel Macron just before.
The pair were spotted privately chatting while at the Vatican for Pope Francis’ funeral.
The Ukrainian and US presidents were among a number of other foreign delegates including Sir Keir Starmer, Emmanuel Macron and Michael D Higgins as mourners flocked to Rome to pay respects to the Catholic leader.
Marking the first time they’d been face-to-face since their tense meeting at the White House in February, chairs were pulled up inside the St Peter’s Basilica for Trump and Zelenskyy to have a brief meeting.
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Taking place just before proceedings began, it has been described as a ‘mini peace summit’ between the leaders.
So, what did Trump say to Zelenskyy at the pope's funeral?
According to professional lip reader Nicola Hickling, Trump offered Zelenskyy some ‘reassurance’.
She analysed the short clip of the meeting, as the pair sat opposite each other, appearing to intensely lean forward on the edge of their chairs.
The forensic lip reader told The Sun that Zelenskyy said to the American: “I would like you to do that but not this way.”
And Trump then apparently replied: “It's a very interesting strategy. You have reassurance.”
Following this ‘good meeting’, Zelenskyy shared a post on X reflecting on it.
“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people,” he wrote.
"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 @POTUS."
His spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, said the meeting lasted around 15 minutes in total.
A White House official told Sky News Trump and Zelenskyy had shared a 'very productive discussion' during the brief sit down and reportedly agreed to hold further talks following the service.
Trump's 'frosty' warning to French president Emmanuel Macron
Reviewing footage, Hickling also claimed that as these chairs were being set up for the leaders, Trump gave a frosty warning to France’s Macron.
She noted how the American reached his hands out to both him and Starmer.
"He says to Macron 'you are not in the right here, I need you to do me a favour, you should not be here’,” Hickling claims.
"Zelenskyy nods in agreement and the vicar who is in front of the camera turns his head to the side looking worried at what he has heard between them."
Topics: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Donald Trump, Ukraine, US News, Politics
Jess Battison