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Lavrov Calls Vatican Venue “Not Elegant” for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

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Amira Barkhush
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Lavrov Calls Vatican Venue “Not Elegant” for Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov gives a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister at the foreign ministry headquarters in Tehran on February 25, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov dismissed the idea of holding Ukraine-Russia negotiations at the Vatican as unrealistic, adding that no date or location for talks has been agreed upon.

Lavrov made the statement on May 23 during a conference called “Historical South Russian Lands: National Identity and Self-Determination of Peoples.”

“People are speculating about when and where a meeting might take place. But we currently have no ideas on the table,” Lavrov said.

“I’d advise against wasting brainpower on scenarios that aren’t particularly realistic. Just imagine the Vatican as a venue, it’s not exactly elegant,” he added.

Lavrov argued that hosting a meeting between representatives of two Orthodox countries at a Catholic venue would be “uncomfortable” for the Vatican itself.

On May 20, Pope Leo XIV has confirmed the Vatican’s readiness to host the next round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. The offer was made following a phone call between the Pope and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who had earlier spoken with US President Donald Trump and several European leaders.

Later, on May 21, Lavrov said that Moscow will not agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, dismissing proposals to agree to a truce, arguing that the so-called “root causes” of the war must be addressed first.

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