Russia is not interested in dictator putin traveling to the Vatican to participate in a new round of negotiations with Ukraine, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's initiative to involve the Pope as a mediator. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources close to the negotiation process.
European officials confirm that discussions on the potential role of the Vatican as a host or mediator are indeed ongoing. The next meeting could take place as early as next week — it all depends on russia’s readiness.
According to Bloomberg’s sources, the United States is currently in contact with the Ukrainian side to ensure the meeting takes place, but is also signaling to moscow that it does not want to see “hawks” at the table — in particular, putin’s aide Vladimir Medinsky, who led the russian delegation in Istanbul in 2022.
Trump, who recently held a two-hour phone call with putin, stated that Pope Leo XIV expressed readiness to host the parties for negotiations at the Vatican.
However, according to kremlin sources, russia prefers Istanbul as the negotiation platform and wants to preserve the delegation format led by Medinsky. One European diplomat noted that russia is essentially returning to the starting conditions of 2022.
Plans to hold talks at the Vatican are further complicated by a number of political and religious barriers. The russian orthodox church, headed by patriarch Kirill — who openly supports the war — considers the Vatican a historical rival. The kremlin does not view the Holy See as a neutral party and also questions the safety of putin traveling to a NATO country such as Italy.
As a reminder, Italy is a participant of the Rome Statute and, in the event of a visit, would be obligated to arrest putin under the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.