Vatican Offers Venue for Ukraine-Russia Talks, Russia Prefers Turkey

The Vatican, under Pope Leo XIV and Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has reiterated its offer to host peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in a neutral and secure venue, emphasizing the urgency of starting negotiations to end the war. However, the Vatican clarified that it does not seek to mediate unless both parties request it, and highlighted that other locations such as Geneva are also being considered. Despite these efforts, Russia has expressed reluctance to hold talks at the Vatican, citing distrust due to its location within a NATO and EU member state, travel restrictions from Western sanctions, and religious differences, with Russian officials preferring Turkey or Gulf states as negotiation venues. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the idea of Vatican-hosted talks as "inelegant," noting that Russia and Ukraine are predominantly Orthodox countries. Meanwhile, Russia supports Turkey hosting further peace negotiations following an earlier inconclusive round. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested several possible venues, including Turkey, the Vatican, and Switzerland, reflecting ongoing attempts to find a mutually agreeable location to resume peace discussions.