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The Pope Leo XIV expressed his willingness to host a new round of negotiations in the Vatican aimed at achieving peace between Russia and Ukraine, as confirmed this Tuesday by the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, following a telephone conversation with the Supreme Pontiff.
The dialogue between Meloni and the Pope took place on Tuesday, May 20, following a call held the day before with U.S. President Donald Trump and other European leaders. During that conversation, the Italian leader was tasked with verifying whether the Holy See was willing to act as a host for new peace talks.
After receiving direct confirmation from Pope Leo XIV, Meloni expressed her deep gratitude for his "openness" and "tireless commitment to peace." According to an official statement from her office, the Vatican is ready to facilitate a neutral and conducive environment for dialogue aimed at ending the armed conflict that has been affecting Ukraine since 2022.
“Upon receiving confirmation from the Holy Father regarding the willingness to host the next round of talks between the parties in the Vatican, the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, expressed her deep gratitude,” also stated the advisor to the Ukrainian Ministry of Interior, Anton Gerashchenko, in a message posted on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
In addition to the Pope, Meloni held talks with other international leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski, French President Emmanuel Macron, Finnish Alexander Stubb, British Keir Starmer, German Friedrich Merz, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
According to official sources, it was agreed to maintain close coordination among European and Western partners in preparation for upcoming diplomatic efforts.
This announcement reinforces the role of the Vatican as a diplomatic actor in international conflicts, reaffirming Pope Leo XIV's position in favor of dialogue and reconciliation amid a war that has resulted in thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, and a global impact.
Private audience with Zelensky: A symbolic gesture of peace
Two days before the call with Meloni, the Pope received Zelensky in a private audience held at the Vatican's Apostolic Palace, following the mass that marked the beginning of his papacy.
In the ceremony, the pontiff called for a "just and lasting peace" and explicitly mentioned Ukraine as a "martyred" nation that awaits the beginning of genuine negotiations, according to Infobae.
Zelenski attended accompanied by his wife, Olena Zelenska, and a high-level diplomatic delegation, reflecting the interest of the Kyiv government in establishing a direct channel with the new leader of the Catholic Church.
On social media, the president thanked the pope for his words and expressed his hope that "the prayers for a dignified life for all will be heard."
The meeting took place days after the first direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul since 2022, which adds significant weight to the gesture from the Vatican.
Although specific details of the hearing were not disclosed, it is believed that it centered around the possibility of the Holy See playing an active role as a mediator in future peace efforts, as indeed seems to have happened.
With this explicit arrangement, Pope Leo XIV positions the Vatican as a key player in the complex international diplomatic landscape, providing a neutral platform in the search for solutions to the prolonged conflict in Eastern Europe.
Trump announces “imminent” negotiations after speaking with Putin
For his part, the U.S. president announced on Monday that Russia and Ukraine will begin "immediately" negotiations for a ceasefire, after having a phone conversation lasting nearly two hours with the Russian president.
On his account on the Truth Social network, Trump stated that the dialogue with Putin was "excellent" and that both parties are ready to begin a negotiating process. He asserted that the terms will be set directly between Kyiv and Moscow, without formal mediators, although he emphasized the Vatican's interest in hosting the discussions. "Let the process begin!" he wrote.
Trump also reported that he spoke with Zelensky and several European leaders, including Giorgia Meloni and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to coordinate the start of diplomatic contacts. According to Russian state media, Putin presented his position on the ceasefire, although at the moment neither the Kremlin nor the Ukrainian government has officially confirmed the beginning of the process.
This movement, along with the Pope's willingness and Meloni's efforts, could mark the beginning of a new phase in the attempts to end the war in Ukraine.
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