In a striking revelation, Russian officials have dismissed the idea of holding peace talks with Ukraine at the Vatican, saying the Holy See lacks the neutrality and geopolitical position to serve as a credible mediator in the ongoing war. According to three senior Russian sources who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, the Vatican is not seen in Moscow as a serious platform for resolving Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II.
The idea of using the Vatican as a peace venue was floated by former U.S. President Donald Trump, following a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later confirmed that Pope Leo XIV—the first American-born pope—expressed his willingness to host such talks during a phone conversation with her.
However, Moscow remains skeptical. “The Vatican is surrounded by Italy, a NATO and EU member that has actively backed Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia,” one official said. “It’s hard to view it as a neutral ground for high-stakes negotiations.”
The Vatican has yet to comment publicly on the proposal, and the Kremlin has only stated that “no decision” has been made regarding the location for potential peace talks. Meanwhile, the practical challenges of getting Russian officials to Rome are significant. Direct flights between Russia and Italy were suspended following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and European Union sanctions severely restrict the movement of sanctioned Russian elites.
Adding to the complexity is the religious divide. Both Russia and Ukraine are predominantly Eastern Orthodox nations, while the Vatican is the global seat of Roman Catholicism. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remarked last week that the Vatican proposal seemed “a bit inelegant” given the religious dynamics.
One Russian official even joked that the only location less appropriate than the Vatican would be The Hague, home of the International Criminal Court, which has issued an arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes charges—something the Kremlin strongly rejects as politically biased and irrelevant since Russia is not a signatory to the ICC.
Despite the rejection of the Vatican, Russia has not ruled out peace talks altogether. Sources indicate that Moscow considers countries such as Turkey, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE as more suitable venues. President Putin has praised Gulf nations and Turkey in the past for their diplomatic engagement and efforts to mediate.
Back in Ukraine, the war rages on, and public opinion is shifting. A growing number of Ukrainians now identify with the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, which is independent of Moscow’s influence, signaling a deepening religious and national divide since the invasion began.
As the world watches and waits, the question remains: if not the Vatican, then where can real peace talks begin?
