Trump in front row between staunch Ukraine supporterspublished at 09:39 British Summer Time
Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor
Image source, Getty ImagesThe US president is sitting with other heads of state in the front row, close to the steps of St Peter’s Basilica. And intriguingly he and First Lady Melania are sitting between two staunch supporters of Ukraine.
Estonia’s President Alar Karis is to Melania’s left, and Finland’s Alexander Stubb to Trump’s right.
Because while the main focus is on the funeral service, considerable attention is focused on potential diplomatic moves on the sidelines.
As the US leader talks of being “very close” to a Russia-Ukraine peace deal, we know that Trump had a brief meeting with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of the funeral.
For 90 minutes or more, Trump is now sandwiched between two of Zelensky’s closest allies.
He knows Stubb well, having played golf with him at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida only weeks ago. At the time Stubb said he told Trump he couldn’t trust Russia’s Putin.
If Estonia’s leader does get a chance to bend Trump’s ear, he would probably say the same.