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European and U.S. leaders welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that Pope Leo XIV is open to hosting peace talks between Russia and Ukraine at the Vatican, according to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. However, the Vatican has not confirmed the Pope’s offer and did not respond to media inquiries.
Trump posted on social media that “The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated that it would be very interested in hosting the negotiations.” This followed his call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and a subsequent group call with key European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Meloni’s office said efforts are underway to initiate negotiations aimed at achieving a ceasefire and laying the foundation for lasting peace in Ukraine. The Italian government welcomed the Vatican’s willingness to mediate and emphasized Italy’s readiness to support peace efforts.
Pope Leo XIV, who was elected just two weeks ago and is the first American to lead the Catholic Church, recently expressed the Vatican’s broader intent to mediate in global conflicts. In a May 14 speech, he stated, “The Holy See is always ready to help bring enemies together… so that peoples everywhere may once more find hope and recover the dignity they deserve—the dignity of peace.” However, he did not specifically mention Ukraine or Russia.
The proposal marks a potentially significant development in the ongoing war, though formal confirmation from the Vatican is still pending.
