Putin Rejects Trump’s Vatican Peace Talks Proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected US President Donald Trump's proposal for Russia-Ukraine peace talks at the Vatican, citing both religious discomfort and logistical issues for sanctioned Russian officials. Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, view the Vatican as an unrealistic venue due to the Orthodox faith of both nations and Italy's alignment with NATO and the EU. Amid these diplomatic disputes, Russia launched its largest drone and missile attack yet on Ukraine and called for a UN Security Council meeting, alleging European threats to peace. Recent peace efforts, such as those in Istanbul, have stalled, with progress limited to prisoner exchanges. At the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, US support for Ukraine appeared to wane, although European support remained strong. Both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Trump accused Moscow of sabotaging diplomatic efforts with ongoing violence, while the Vatican has maintained silence on mediation.