Russia Dismisses Vatican-Mediated Ukraine Peace Talks As 'Fantasy'

Russia said that it would be "inelegant" for the two nations to hold talks in the Vatican, adding that such a setting would not only be awkward for Russia and Ukraine, but for the Vatican itself.

Moscow as dismissed the idea of the Vatican being a venue for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.

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Amid whispers about the Vatican potentially hosting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow has firmly dismissed the notion, describing it as "fantasy" that people are talking about. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov expressed doubts that a venue such as Vatican would be finalised, stating that the Holy See itself would be uncomfortable in hosting talks between two mainly Orthodox Christian nations.

When asked about the Vatican's suitability as a site for negotiations, Lavrov, without mincing words, said: "Many people are fantasising about when and where it (the meeting) will take place. We don't have any ideas right now." 

He further questioned the appropriateness of the venue, highlighting how "inelegant" it would be for the two nations to hold talks in the Vatican. "Imagine the Vatican as a venue for such negotiations. It would be a bit inelegant for Orthodox countries to use a Catholic platform to discuss issues on how to remove the root causes" of the conflict," the Russian foreign minister said. 

Lavrov added that such a setting would not only be awkward for Russia and Ukraine, but for the Vatican itself. "I think it would not be very comfortable for the Vatican itself," he said.

Pope's Early Diplomatic Aspirations Stir Interest

Earlier this month, Pope Leo XIV—the first American to head the Catholic Church—stated his openness to mediating international conflicts, a sentiment he expressed shortly after his appointment. His comments sparked renewed speculation about the Holy See stepping into the role of peacemaker, particularly in Eastern Europe.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday added fuel to the fire, saying she spoke directly with the Pope, who reportedly confirmed “his willingness to host the talks.” However, Vatican officials have remained tight-lipped, offering no official statement on the matter.

Trump Cites Papal Interest In Negotiations

Adding his voice to the chorus, US President Donald Trump took to his Truth Social platform after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations," Trump declared.

Positioning himself once again as a broker of peace, Trump said earlier this week that "Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a Ceasefire and, more importantly, an END to the War. The conditions for that will be negotiated between the two parties, as it can only be, because they know details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of."

Russia, Ukraine Free First 390 Prisoners Since War Began

While speculation about the Vatican continues, more concrete developments are unfolding in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. For the first time since the onset of the war, Russian and Ukrainian negotiators met directly in Istanbul earlier this month.

Following the talks, both nations released 390 prisoners each on Friday, saying that they would free more in the upcoming days. This is believed to be the biggest prisoner swap of the war since it began.

The only tangible outcome from last week’s first direct talks in over three years between Russia and Ukraine was a mutual agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners each. Despite high hopes, the two sides were unable to reach a ceasefire, making the prisoner swap the sole substantial move toward easing tensions.