Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky have pledged to “maintain momentum and continue working intensively” on diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine, following their meeting in Rome after the Pope’s funeral.
According to Downing Street, the leaders reviewed “positive progress made in recent days” towards achieving a peace agreement.
The Prime Minister was accompanied by the Prince of Wales at the funeral, held in St Peter’s Square on Saturday.
Ahead of the service, Sir Keir, US President Donald Trump, President Zelensky of Ukraine, and French President Emmanuel Macron were photographed in conversation inside St Peter’s Basilica.
A Downing Street spokesperson stated that Sir Keir and President Zelensky “discussed positive progress made in recent days to secure a just and lasting peace in Ukraine”.
“They agreed to maintain momentum and to continue working closely with international partners on the next stages of peace planning,” the spokesperson added.
It is believed that Starmer and Zelensky met for a private 15-minute meeting while walking through the gardens of the Ambassador’s residence following the funeral.
This was followed by an additional meeting between their delegations, lasting approximately 20 minutes.
Zelensky and Trump held a 15-minute one-on-one discussion before the service, just a day after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin — as trilateral discussions on ending the conflict continue.
Photographs show the US and Ukrainian presidents in deep conversation, seated across from one another on red chairs against the ornate backdrop of the basilica.
After the funeral, President Zelensky described his meeting with Trump as “good” and “very symbolic”, adding that it had “the potential to become historic”.
The Prince of Wales and Sir Keir joined international leaders to pay their respects to the late Pope during the funeral.
They were among 55 heads of state, 14 heads of government, and 12 reigning monarchs who gathered for the open-air service in front of the basilica.
Prince William, representing King Charles III, shared a moment of silence with the Prime Minister in front of Pope Francis’s coffin.
Clad in a dark blue suit and black tie, Prince William bowed his head before the funeral mass began, then entered St Peter’s Basilica to meet a member of the clergy and be shown to his seat.
This occasion marks his most significant public duty to date as heir to the throne and the first time he has represented the King — head of the Church of England — at an international funeral.
On arrival, Prince William spoke briefly with President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, Kensington Palace reported.
He also exchanged words with President Macron and his wife, Brigitte.
During the funeral service, the prince was seated in the third row beside German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan positioned in the row in front.
The heir’s attendance follows a modern tradition: King Charles, as Prince of Wales, represented Queen Elizabeth II at the funeral of Pope John Paul II in 2005.
Sir Keir attended the event with his wife, Victoria, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Pope Francis passed away at age 88 on Easter Monday, following a period of ill health after suffering from double pneumonia earlier in the year.
The Vatican estimates that approximately 250,000 people attended the funeral in St Peter’s Square and the surrounding area.
Quangos are organisations funded by the taxpayer, though not directly managed by central government, and include various regulatory bodies.
The closed-door conclave will begin in the Sistine Chapel, bringing together some 135 cardinals from around the world.
Ms Duffield claims she was “hounded” out of her party over her opinions regarding gender issues.
David Stancombe and Sergio Aguiar were engaged in fundraising for initiatives established in memory of their daughters.
The Bishop of Portsmouth paid tribute, noting Pope Francis had “something very human” about him.