Russia does not see Vatican as a serious arena for peace talks, sources say
3811 Min Read
Russia does not view the Vatican as a credible venue for peace negotiations with Ukraine, according to three senior Russian sources who spoke to Reuters. They cited the Holy See’s position as the center of Catholicism and its location within Italy — a member of both NATO and the European Union — as key reasons.
The sources also noted that many Russian officials are unable to travel to the Vatican due to Western-imposed travel restrictions.
The Vatican has not publicly commented on the proposal reportedly raised by U.S. President Donald Trump during a conversation with President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that Pope Leo XIV could host peace talks to help end the most deadly conflict in Europe since World War II.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said last week that Pope Leo XIV — the first pontiff from the United States — had expressed his willingness to host such negotiations during a phone call with her.
“The Vatican is not regarded in Russia as a serious actor capable of resolving such a complicated conflict,” one senior Russian source familiar with Kremlin thinking said, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the issue.
Among the reasons cited by the three sources are the religious and geopolitical divides: both Russia and Ukraine are predominantly Eastern Orthodox, while the Vatican is situated within Italy, a NATO-aligned country that has consistently supported Ukraine and imposed sanctions on Russia.
