Ukrainian president says may not go to pope's funeral

Zelensky earlier said he would attend the Vatican funeral, but now has to attend 'military meetings'

Apr 26, 2025

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky talks to the press as diplomats stand behind him near a destroyed residential building following a Russian missile attack in Kyiv on April 25, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo: AFP)

By AFP, Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Friday he might miss Pope Francis's funeral on April 26, which US President Donald Trump is also to attend, due to important "military meetings."

Zelensky had earlier said he would attend the Vatican funeral, where he wanted to meet Trump -- who is pressuring both Kyiv and Moscow to reach a deal on the three-year war in Ukraine.

"If I am not [there] in time, Ukraine will be represented at a proper level," Zelensky said as he visited the site of a deadly Russian strike on Kyiv.

"The foreign minister and the first lady will be there. As for me, it was important for me to be here. There are several military meetings in Ukraine today," he added.

Zelensky said he would have a "number of meetings," including on the strike on Kyiv that had killed 12 people a day earlier.

"There are several closed questions about this strike. And about Ukraine's corresponding steps. I don't know how long it will take. So if I have time, I will definitely be present [at the funeral]," he said.

Zelensky earlier said that a missile fired by Russia on Kyiv on April 24 had been supplied by North Korea and had dozens of components from US firms.--ucanews.com