CNN interrupts Pope funeral coverage for Trump and Zelensky bombshell

The broadcaster issued an update on the Ukraine war shortly after covering Trump and Zelensky meeting in Rome.

Broadcaster CNN praised  the meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis, shortly before revealing a huge bombshell for Zelensky and Ukraine. The brief face-to-face meeting between the pair was caught on camera. It has been reported that the US and Ukrainian Presidents are to meet again after the service.

Clarissa Ward from CNN described the moment between the pair as, “a fitting tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis, who was so passionate about peace.” However the channel subsequently reported Russian President Vladimir Putin claims his country has regained control of Kursk, the border region where Ukraine launched a surprise offensive last year, though Ukraine’s army told them fighting continues.

Commenting on the meeting, Anderson Cooper spoke over footage of the funeral and images of the pair facing each other as they sat in chairs in St Peter’s Basilica. “The White House describes the meeting as, quote, a very productive discussion. We don’t know many details about… what the tone and tenor of it was… Zelensky had previously expressed he would be willing to meet with President Trump when both leaders would be in Italy,” he said.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky had a meeting ahead of Pope Francis funeral (Image: Getty)

This meeting marks the first time the two leaders have come face to face since that February Oval Office meeting where Trump berated Zelensky for not demonstrating enough gratitude for American support in their Ukraine war.

Clarissa Ward interjected: “Sitting on these chairs in the Basilica…what a what a fitting tribute to the legacy of Pope Francis, who was so passionate about peace, about ending conflict.

“Given the fractious nature of the relationship between President Trump and President Zelensky over the course of the last few months, to see them sitting there together… (is) very much in spirit with the message of Pope Francis.”

While Trump and Zelensky had their discussion Putin boasted of a huge victory in the war. “The Kyiv regime’s adventure has completely failed,” he said. He congratulated the Russian forces he said defeated the Ukrainian military in the region in what would be a symbolic boost for Moscow at a crucial point in the war.

Donald Trump met with Ukranian President Zelensky while in Rome for Pope Francis funeral (Image: Getty)

But the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces denied Putin’s claim in a Telegram post. “The defensive operation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the designated areas in Kursk region continues. The operational situation is difficult, but our units continue to hold their positions and perform their assigned tasks,” he said.

CNN admitted they had been unable to independently verify battlefield reports.

If Putin’s claims prove true it will be a huge blow for Donald Trump after he sent special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow to meet Putin on Friday April 25.

This was the fourth meeting between Witkoff and Putin since Trump came into office, and both Trump and the Russian Foreign Minister have said they believe the progress towards a peace deal is being made.