Pope Leo offers Vatican for Ukraine-Russia peace talks

ROME: Pope Leo XIV has said the Vatican is ready to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. 

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed the offer after speaking with the pope, who said he wants to support efforts to end the war.

Meloni consulted Leo following a phone call on Monday between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, her office said.

Trump spoke with European leaders including Meloni after the call, and she was asked to confirm the pope’s readiness to host talks, her office said.

Meloni spoke with the pope on Tuesday and noted “the Holy Father’s willingness to host upcoming discussions between the parties at the Vatican,” it said.

She thanked the pope for “his unwavering commitment to peace”.

Meloni also spoke on Tuesday with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and several other world leaders to maintain “close coordination” with a view to peace talks, it added.

Recent efforts to resolve the war following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine have yielded no breakthroughs, and Putin has rejected Kyiv’s ceasefire proposals.

Leo proposed the Vatican’s mediation to the warring parties last week at a gathering with representatives of the Eastern Christian Churches.