Vice President J.D. Vance came face-to-face with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since their Oval Office showdown earlier this year.

The two attended Pope Leo XIV’s first Sunday mass after being elected the new leader of the Catholic Church – and the first American to ever hold the top post in Vatican City.

After the service, Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined Vance and Zelensky in Rome for talks aimed at advancing the goal of ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

‘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,’ states a readout of their meeting from the Vice President’s office.

The meeting comes as President Donald Trump prepares for a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday to negotiate an end to the conflict that has gone on for nearly three-and-a-half years.

A White House official told reporters that Trump did not phone in for the meeting, but plans to speak with Zelensky on Monday, which the president previously announced on Truth Social.

The vice president and first lady Usha Vance were seen shaking hands with Zelensky hours before the meeting on peace negotiations.

After sitting down with Zelensky, Vance and Rubio also had a trilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen at the Palazzo Chigi. They mostly discussed trade and cooperating to end the war in Ukraine.

Back in February, Vance and Zelensky had a very tense exchange during an Oval Office meeting with President Trump.

Vance felt that the Ukrainian leader was being disrespectful to his boss and said he should be more appreciative of the assistance the U.S. has provided to Kyiv over the years.

‘Mr. President, with respect, I think it’s disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media,’ Vance said as he went into attack mode after Zelensky repeatedly disputed statements made by Trump.

Vance noted that Biden stood up for four years and ‘talked tough’ while ‘thumping his chest’ but Putin invaded Ukraine anyway.

‘The path to peace and the path to prosperity is maybe engaging in diplomacy,’ the vice president said at the time.

Zelensky explained how Putin occupied parts ofUkraine since 2014, beginning in Crimea, and complained how nobody would stop him or help broker a ceasefire.

‘What kind of diplomacy, JD, you are speaking about?’ Zelensky asked.

‘I’m talking about the kind of diplomacy that’s going to end the destruction of your country,’ he replied.

Vance reminded Zelensky that Trump was engaging in diplomacy and that he should be respected for trying to find peace between the two countries.

‘Do you think it’s respectful to come to the Oval Office of the United States of America that’s trying to prevent the destruction of your country?’ Vance asked Zelensky.

When the Ukrainian leader further questioned Trump’s remarks and disputed the president about the ongoing war between Russia, Vance pushed back: ‘Have you said thank you once? During this entire meeting?’

‘A lot of times,’ Zelensky replied. ‘Even today.’

Vance and Zelensky’s interaction on Sunday marked the first time they saw each other since that very heated back-and-forth.