Negotiations between Putin and Zelenski to the Vatican. A proposal welcomed by European leaders
Pope Leon XIV Photo: IPA / Splashnews.com / Splash / Profimedia
European leaders have welcomed the announcement of US President Donald Trump on Pope Leon XIV's interest in hosting the Vatican negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Italy Prime Minister Georgia Meloni announced, although the Vatican has not confirmed that the Pope made this offer, writes Reuters.
So far, the Vatican has not responded to the request to confirm this information.
“The Vatican, represented by the Pope, announced that he is very interested in hosting the negotiations,” Donald Trump wrote on social networks.
Meloni's press office said that European leaders, including the President of Ukraine Volodimir Zelenski, the president of France Emmanuel Macron and the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, spoke with Trump after the telephone conversation he had with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
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“It is worked for the immediate start of negotiations between parties that will lead to a cessation of fire as soon as possible and to elaborate the conditions for a fair and sustainable peace in Ukraine,” the Italian government statement states.
“From this perspective, the availability of Saint Father to host the Vatican discussions has been considered positive. Italy is ready to fulfill its role to facilitate contacts and efforts for peace,” says the quoted source.
Pope Leon XIV, chosen two weeks ago, is the first American leader of the Catholic Church. In a speech on May 14, the Pope said that the Vatican could act as a mediator in global conflicts, without explicitly mentioning Ukraine and Russia.
“The holy chair is always prepared to help bring enemies to the same table, face to face, to talk to each other, so that the people around the world can find hope and obtain the dignity they deserve, the dignity of peace,” said Pope.
