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Pope Leo XIV Reaffirms Vatican’s Readiness to Host Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Pope Leo XIV has confirmed the Vatican’s readiness to host the next round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, according to a statement from the Italian government released on May 20.
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.
“Finding in the Holy Father confirmation of the readiness to host the next talks between the parties in the Vatican, the prime minister expressed deep gratitude to Pope Leo XIV for his unceasing commitment to peace,” the statement said.
The proposal came days after direct talks between Ukraine and Russia were held in Istanbul on May 16, marking the first direct negotiations between Ukarine and Russia since 2022. The discussions, however, lasted less than two hours and yielded no breakthrough.
In the aftermath of Vladimir Putin’s absence from the Istanbul negotiations, the Vatican characterized the outcome as “tragic.” Pope Leo XIV subsequently emphasized his intention to welcome both sides to the Vatican in a renewed effort to facilitate a resolution to the ongoing war initiated by Russia against Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, following the Pontiff’s inaugural mass in St. Peter’s Square. The audience marked the first official meeting granted by the newly elected Pope to a foreign head of state.
The talks centered on Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, with particular attention given to the Holy See’s potential role in future mediation efforts. Humanitarian issues were also a key focus, including the release of Ukrainian prisoners and the return of children unlawfully deported to Russia.
