Rome — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with United States Vice President JD Vance on Sunday, for the first time since their heated White House debate in February, as Russia launched a “record” drone barrage on Kyiv.

The meeting came two days after the first direct talks between Ukraine and Russia in over three years. They were held in Turkey, where a prisoner exchange was agreed but no progress made on securing a ceasefire.

“We discussed the talks in Istanbul, where the Russians sent a low-level delegation with no decision-making powers,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram following the meeting with Vance at the US ambassador’s residence in Rome.

Both men had earlier attended Pope Leo’s inaugural mass at the Vatican.

“We also touched on the need for sanctions against Russia, bilateral trade, defense cooperation, the situation on the battlefield and the future exchange of prisoners,” Zelensky added.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Zelensky’s aide Andriy Yermak were also present.

In a short statement, the White House said “the leaders discussed their shared goal of ending the bloodshed in Ukraine and provided updates on the current state of negotiations for a ceasefire and lasting peace.”